Italy ready to confirm starting XI for World Cup play-off final
Italy changed their schedule ahead of Tuesday’s World Cup play-off in Bosnia, but it seems as if Gennaro Gattuso is not inclined to change his starting XI.
It kicks off at the Stadion Bilino Polje in Zenica on Tuesday March 31 at 19.45 UK time.
The Azzurri laboured to a 2-0 victory over Northern Ireland in Thursday’s semi-final in Bergamo, with goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean.
Italy preparing for Bosnia trip
They had been due to fly out on Monday morning, but UEFA asked them to delay that because the pitch in Zenica is so bad that they fear two teams training on it will only cause further damage.
The situation is made worse by the weather conditions, as there has been heavy rain and on Saturday even snow.
Gattuso’s men therefore remained at the Coverciano camp today and the indications from Sky Sport Italia suggest there will be no changes to the starting XI.
It means Mateo Retegui should again be preferred to Inter striker Francesco Pio Esposito, and Matteo Politano chosen ahead of Marco Palestra.
Atalanta forward Gianluca Scamacca took part in training, having missed the semi-final with a muscular issue.
Alessandro Bastoni shook off that knock to his ankle that made him a doubt for the Northern Ireland match.
The only other possible change mentioned in the media was Bryan Cristante for Manuel Locatelli, who Gattuso had criticised for sitting too deep, but here too it looks as if the same XI is being tested out.
Italy (3-5-2): Donnarumma; Mancini, Bastoni, Calafiori; Politano, Barella, Locatelli, Tonali, Dimarco; Kean, Retegui