Luciano Spalletti has confirmed that he will make up to five changes to his Italy side ahead of Monday night’s Nations League match against Israel, while Inter centre-back Alessandro Bastoni is the only player already confirmed as a starter.
The CT conducted his pre-match press conference on Sunday, ahead of the ‘away’ game against Israel in Hungary on Monday night.
Spalletti provides updates on available Italy players
The coach said it will be ‘impossible’ to name the same starting XI as the one that beat France 3-1 in Paris on Saturday, as his squad have not had enough time to recover from their fatigue yet.
“It’s difficult to put the same team out as Friday, it’s not possible to get over the fatigue after just two days. Let’s see how the guys are, but it’s not unusual to change three, four, five players,” Spalletti told the press.
Riccardo Calafiori and Lorenzo Pellegrini, who both started against France, have since left the squad to return to their domestic clubs with minor injury concerns.
With Calafiori out, Spalletti has confirmed that Bastoni will keep his place in the team to provide some continuity. It would not be a surprise to see Alessandro Buongiorno line up alongside him.
“Bastoni will play tomorrow, because it becomes tricky taking both him and Calafiori out of the team. He has the most experience, he brings things to the table that can help the whole team,” the CT added.
Samuele Ricci, off the back of his impressive full debut, sat next to Spalletti for his press-conference, which is an indicator that he will be involved in some capacity at least.
Goalscorer Davide Frattesi came off mid-way through the second half at the Parc des Princes in Paris, and will need further assessment before a decision is made on whether he can play against Israel.
“Frattesi will be evaluated in today’s training, but he says he is fine and good to go. He was substituted earlier than planned, to avoid any unnecessary dangers. We need to see after a bit of training.”
Spalletti: Italy ‘don’t have Baggio or Del Piero’, but were ‘more than just a team’ against France
Israel should be banned from international sports until they end their illegal occupation and aparthied in a Palestine.