Italy CT Roberto Mancini could experiment in the friendly against Moldova tonight, when Francesco Caputo could be handed his debut.
The match at the Artemio Franchi kicks off at 19.45 UK time.
Italy’s first of three matches this month was initially scheduled in Parma but has been moved to Florence to limit the travelling of the Azzurri players.
A test to provide answers for Mancini as the Italy CT prepares for two big UEFA Nations League matches against Poland and the Netherlands.
Italy CT Roberto Mancini could experiment in the friendly against Moldova tonight, when Francesco Caputo could be handed his debut.
The match at the Artemio Franchi kicks off at 19.45 UK time.
Italy’s first of three matches this month was initially scheduled in Parma but has been moved to Florence to limit the travelling of the Azzurri players.
A test to provide answers for Mancini as the Italy CT prepares for two big UEFA Nations League matches against Poland and the Netherlands.
Federico Chiesa, who moved from Fiorentina to Juventus this week, will most likely be one of the players rested and protected this week, when Ciccio Caputo looks set to start for the Azzurri.
Caputo, who has scored three goals in three Serie A games so far this season, was called up for the first time in September but wasn’t involved against either Bosnia or Holland.
Salvatore Sirigu seems set to be handed a rare start in goal, as Manuel Lazzari, Gianluca Mancini, Francesco Acerbi and Cristiano Biraghi could all make the back four in Mancini’s 4-3-3 formation.
Manuel Locatelli, Bryan Cristante and Jack Bonaventura get the chance to prove themselves in the middle, whilst Caputo will most likely be joined by his club captain Domenico Berardi and Shanghai Shenhua forward Stephan El Shaarawy up front.
Benevento midfielder Artur Ionita, who moved from Cagliari ahead of the current season, should be in Moldova’s line-up.
Italy (probable): Sirigu; Lazzari, Mancini, Acerbi, Biraghi; Locatelli, Cristante, Bonaventura; Berardi, Caputo, El Shaarawy
Moldova (probable): Coselev; Platica, Mudra, Posmac, Armas, Reabciuk; Rata, Carp, Epureanu, Ionita; Damascan