Italy start with Andrea Belotti up front in the decisive clash with Switzerland in the World Cup Qualifiers on Friday night.
The match at the Stadio Olimpico kicks off at 19.45 UK time.
The stage is set for the penultimate match of Group C in the 2022 World Cup Qualifers, as the two sides fight for the top spot in the table.
Italy and Switzerland are only separated by one goal and Roberto Mancini’s men are desperate to pick up a win and thus strengthen their position in the hunt for a place in Qatar next year.
But CT Mancini must cope without a host of key players, with captain Giorgio Chiellini and centre forward Ciro Immobile ruled out of the tie.
Roma duo Lorenzo Pellegrini and Nicolò Zaniolo pulled out of the squad too, but Inter midfielder Nicolò Barella is set to start in the middle with Jorginho and Manuel Locatelli.
Torino captain Belotti gets the nod in Immobile’s absence, with Federico Chiesa and Lorenzo Insigne completing the attacking trident in Mancini’s 4-3-3 formation.
Switzerland CT Murat Yakin claimed the pressure is on Italy ahead of the big game, as his men are guaranteed second in the group.
Denis Zakaria has been targeted by some of the Serie A giants, who will get a closer look at the Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder tonight.
Torino defender Ricardo Rodriguez is set to start at left-back in the 4-2-3-1 formation.
Di Lorenzo deserves some credit. Totally underrated player, he has been a beast for the last two seasons.
Why not let Beradi take that penalty kick? He played it with beauty to get the call. I don’t understand the love affair with Jorghino. His is mediocre at best. May have cost Italy. Need new blood in this club.
Switzerland having secured atleast 2nd place and playing away from home .. played with no pressure .. nothing to lose unlike Italy! Also Italy leaving aside the player omissions made it difficult for themselves! Should Donna have saved the goal .. is not playing regularly for Club affecting him?? Is Allegri ruining Loca and Chiesa?? Italy once renouned for their Defence, easily concedes goals these days …
And as far as the missed Penalty … I will blame Mancini for this. However good a penalty taker is nerves can take over. After his miss last match against the Switz, Mancini shud have selected Bonucci and Berardi in the crucial Qualifiers as the penalty takers. Berardi scored against Belgium in the NL and recently hasn’t missed a penalty. Jorghino himself should have declined!
@dangerboy send me more supplies I just had a party in my pants seeing this result