Spalletti plans radical Italy changes against Ukraine

Luciano Spalletti is reportedly planning to completely transform the midfield as Italy host Ukraine in a EURO 2024 qualifier, potentially also changing two of the trident attack.

It kicks off at San Siro on Tuesday at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).

The Azzurri were held to a 1-1 draw by North Macedonia on Saturday, while Ukraine had the same result against England.

Matteo Politano and Gianluca Mancini pulled out of the squad with muscular injuries, so that makes for two changes to the starting XI at least, but Spalletti is looking at several more.

Giacomo Raspadori should replace his Napoli teammate in the trident attack, with either Mattia Zaccagni or Wilfried Gnonto completing it with Ciro Immobile.

Zaccagni trained separately from the rest of the group today, so is also not 100 per cent fit.

The biggest transformation is in midfield, where all three are expected to change, including Matteo Pessina, Manuel Locatelli and Davide Frattesi, sending Nicolò Barella, Bryan Cristante and Sandro Tonali to the bench.

The only change in defence should see Giorgio Scalvini step in for injured Mancini.

Italy (probable): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Scalvini, Bastoni, Dimarco; Pessina, Locatelli, Frattesi; Raspadori, Immobile, Zaccagni/Gnonto