Roberto Mancini says Italy will approach Friday’s Nations League match against France with the intention of winning, despite facing a team packed with “extraordinary players”.
The fixture begins at the Stade de France in Paris at 19.45 UK time (20.45 CEST), with France currently leading Group A after winning both of their matches 1-0 away from home.
Italy have produced contrasting performances in the competition so far. They suffered a 2-0 home defeat by Belgium before responding with a 4-1 victory against Vincenzo Montella’s Turkiye.
Mancini is therefore waiting to see which version of his side appears in Paris.
“It will certainly be a great game against a top team, full of extraordinary players, but we always want to make a good impression and will do our best,” Mancini told Sky Sport Italia.
“When you are up against such strong teams, you never play not to win, so naturally we must always play looking for the victory. After that, anything can happen in a game situation.”
Mancini added that Italy are likely to make fewer changes to their starting line-up than they did for the match in Bursa.
Giacomo Raspadori and Nicolo Zaniolo have left the squad because of injury, while nine other players have remained at Coverciano to continue training.
Those players are Samuele Inacio, Alessandro Romano, Honest Ahanor, Nicolo Cambiaghi, Diego Coppola, Daniele Ghilardi, Eddy Kouadio, Rolando Mandragora and Massimo Pessina.
“I have a few doubts, we’ll evaluate tomorrow morning to see how some have recovered after Bursa,” Mancini said.
The manager was also asked about his options in attack, including whether Pio Esposito or Moise Kean could lead the line.
“Or Scamacca? We’ll make fewer changes than we saw in Bursa, that’s for sure,” he replied.
Sandro Tonali started as the playmaker in the previous match, and Mancini was asked whether the midfielder could occupy the same position against France.
“Maybe,” Mancini said with a smile.
