Italy CT Roberto Mancini is set to leave six players out of the squad to face England in the first game of the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign in Naples on Thursday evening.
Mancini had originally selected a squad of 30 to prepare for the upcoming matches against England and Malta.
According to UEFA regulations, only 12 players are permitted to be named on the substitutes bench for competitive International matches.
After a few alterations to his initial squad, largely due to injury concerns in the build-up to the two qualifiers, Mancini has 29 players at his disposal, meaning that six will be left out altogether against Gareth Southgate’s England.
22-year old Cremonese goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi, who was called up to replace Ivan Provedel earlier in the week, will not be involved on Thursday evening, with the ever-present Gianluigi Donnarumma expected to keep his place in the Azzurri goal.
Captain Leonardo Bonucci will also sit out of the game against the Three Lions with concerns over the 35-year-old’s fitness heading into the clash.
Joining Bonucci on the sidelines will be 23-year-old Torino centre-back Alessandro Boungiorno, who is not intended to play any part against England.
In midfield, Sassuolo midfielder Davide Frattesi will not be selected, with the Euro 2020 winning midfield of Jorginho, Marco Verratti and Nicolo Barella expected to keep their places in the starting line-up.
Moving forwards, this will be one game too soon for the surprise inclusion of the squad, 17-year-old Simone Pafundi, who has just three Serie A appearances to his name in his fledgling career with Udinese.
The more experienced Freiburg centre-forward Vincenzo Grifo will also be left out of the matchday squad, with Argentine-born Mateo Retegui currently favourite to lead the line for the Azzurri against England.
With the clash against England tipped as being one of the most difficult matches Mancini’s side wll have to play in the qualifying campaign, a relatively easier fixture against Malta on Sunday might provide more of an opportunity for squad rotation.
Kick off against the Three Lions will take place at 19.45 on Thursday evening.