Roberto Mancini is expected to make wholesale changes to the Italy side that lined up against England when the Azzurri travel to Ta’ Qali to take on Malta in the second round of Euro 2024 qualification on Sunday evening.
According to reports in Italy, Mancini will make eight alterations to the team that faced the Three Lions, with the entire back-line predicted to be switched around.
Whilst Donnarumma is expected to keep his place in goal, Matteo Darmian, Giorgio Scalvini, Alessio Romagnoli and Emerson expected to come in in place of Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Rafael Toloi, Francesco Acerbi and Leonardo Spinazzola.
In midfield, Marco Verratti is expected to continue as captain and will be parterend by Sandro Tonali and Bryan Cristante in midfield instead of Jorginho and Nicolo Barella.
Mateo Retegui will have his debut goal against Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions rewarded by a second start in succession up front.
The Argentine-born striker is expected to be flanked by Matteo Politano and Wilfried Gnonto, who replace Domenico Berardi and Lorenzo Pellegrini.
Leonardo Bonucci and Barella will miss out through injury, having both returned home from the squad after the England game.
Malta will be led by an Italian coach in the former Bari, Atalanta and Chievo midfielder Michele Marcolini.
The Falcons will be looking to set the record straight after their 2-1 loss to North Macedonia on the opening round of qualifying fixtures on Thursday evening.
Kick-off at the Ta’ Qali National Stadium is set for 19.45 on Sunday evening.
Probable Malta line-up (3-5-2): Bonello; Attard, Borg, Apap; Mbong, Kristensen, Guillaumier, Yankam, Camenzuli; Teuma, Satariano
Probable Italy line-up (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Darmian, Scalvini, Romagnoli, Emerson; Tonali, Cristante, Verratti; Politano, Retegui, Gnonto.