MX23RW : Wednesday, June 19 00:06:39| >> :60:2751:2751:
[monks data]
Italy national football team
European Championship | Group Stage
Jun 15, 2024 at 8pm UK
Signal-Iduna-Park
Albania national football team

Italy
2 - 1
Albania

Bastoni (11'), Barella (16')
Pellegrini (22'), Calafiori (51')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Bajrami (1')
Broja (51'), Hoxha (74')

How Italy could line up against Albania

How Italy could line up against Albania
© Reuters
Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Italy could line up for Saturday's Euro 2024 clash with Albania.

Reigning champions Italy get their Euro 2024 campaign under way on Saturday evening, when they meet Albania for their Group B opener.

The Azzurri arrive in Dortmund with several players absent from their final squad through injury, but recent concerns over a trio of midfielders have been allayed by all three taking part in training.

Fresh from scoring in Italy's final warm-up match against Bosnia-Herzegovina, Inter Milan's Davide Frattesi is expected to feature, while Nicolo Barella - statistically La Nazionale's most creative player in qualifying - and surprise call-up Nicolo Fagioli should both overcome minor muscular problems.

Though doubts remain over Barella's readiness to start - particularly with crucial clashes against Croatia and Spain yet to come - he may still partner the vastly experienced Jorginho in central midfield.

Head coach Luciano Spalletti has extolled the virtues of tactical flexibility in recent months, and even if he selects an initial back three, one wing-back would fill in and make up a four when required.

Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo will battle it out with Raoul Bellanova and the versatile Andrea Cambiaso for selection on the right, while Inter star Federico Dimarco is favourite to start on the left.

Destiny Udogie would also have been in the mix for the latter role, but the Tottenham Hotspur defender joins Francesco Acerbi, Giorgio Scalvini, Nicolo Zaniolo and Domenico Berardi on the sidelines due to injury; Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali is still suspended.

Therefore, several places are up for grabs, but captain Gianluigi Donnarumma certainly starts in goal, and either Gianluca Scamacca or Mateo Retegui will lead the line up front.

Italy possible starting lineup: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Calafiori, Bastoni, Dimarco; Jorginho, Barella; Frattesi, Pellegrini, Chiesa; Scamacca

> Click here to see how Albania could line up for this contest

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How you voted: Italy vs Albania

Italy
82.3%
Draw
8.5%
Albania
9.3%
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Italy players pose for a team group photo before the match on June 4, 2024
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Italy Euro 2024 squad: Who makes the cut? Which stars have missed out?
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Euro 2024 fixtures header
Wednesday, June 19
 
2pm
 
5pm
Thursday, June 20
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Group Stage
Spain
vs.
Italy
Friday, June 21
 
2pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
Saturday, June 22
 
5pm
 
8pm
Sunday, June 23
 
8pm
 
8pm
Monday, June 24
 
8pm
 
8pm
Tuesday, June 25
 
5pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
 
8pm
Wednesday, June 26
 
5pm
 
5pm
 
8pm
 
8pm
Saturday, June 29
Sunday, June 30
Monday, July 1
Tuesday, July 2
Friday, July 5
Saturday, July 6
Tuesday, July 9
Wednesday, July 10
Sunday, July 14
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Germany Germany11003
2 Switzerland Switzerland11003
3 Hungary Hungary10010
4 Scotland flag Scotland10010

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Spain Spain11003
2 Italy Italy11003
3 Albania national flag Albania10010
4 Croatia Croatia10010

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
1 England flag England11003
2 Denmark Denmark10101
3 Slovenia Slovenia10101
4 Serbia Serbia10010

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Netherlands Netherlands11003
2 France France11003
3 Poland Poland10010
4 Austria Austria10010

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Romania Romania11003
2 Slovakia Slovakia11003
3 Belgium Belgium10010
4 Ukraine Ukraine10010

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Turkey Turkey11003
2 Portugal Portugal11003
3 Czech Republic Czech Republic10010
4 Georgia Georgia10010


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