Italy started training today for the friendlies against Albania and Austria, as Roberto Mancini tested out two new tactics using a three-man defence.
The Azzurri are not participating in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, so have organised two friendly matches instead.
They visit Albania in Tirana on Wednesday November 16, then Austria in Vienna on Sunday November 20.
After winning EURO 2020 with a 4-3-3 formation, Mancini has begun testing out alternative tactical shapes for his squad.
Today at the Coverciano training centre, he set them out in a game between ranks with one team in a 3-4-3 formation, the other 3-5-2.
He is expected to choose roughly the side in the 3-4-3 shape as the starting XI against Edy Reja’s Albania on Wednesday.
There are still some choices to be made largely in attack between Matteo Politano and Nicolò Zaniolo on one flank, Federico Chiesa or Vincenzo Grifo on the other.
With Gianluca Scamacca pulling out through injury, Giacomo Raspadori becomes first choice centre-forward.
Italy probable (3-4-3): Meret; Scalvini, Bonucci, Bastoni; Di Lorenzo, Verratti, Barella, Dimarco; Politano/Zaniolo, Raspadori, Chiesa/Grifo