Roberto Mancini has continued to work with a 4-3-3 formation as Italy prepare to face France in the Nations League, with Thursday’s final training session offering further clues about the likely starting line-up.
The Azzurri will play at the Stade de France at 19:45 BST on Friday evening, having completed their final session at Coverciano before travelling to Paris on Thursday afternoon. Mancini worked with a squad of 23 players during the training session.
Mancini used a 4-3-3 in his first two matches since returning as Italy manager. His side lost 2-0 at home to Belgium last week before responding with a 4-1 away victory against Vincenzo Montella’s Turkey on Monday.
The defensive exercises suggested the same system is likely to be retained against France, although there are several decisions still to be made.
At right-back, Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Michael Kayode were rested, while Matteo Ruggeri and Riccardo Calafiori worked at left-back. In central defence, Giorgio Scalvini and Gianluca Mancini were used on the right side, while Alessandro Bastoni was the only player tested on the left and is expected to start.
La Gazzetta dello Sport expects Kayode to play at right-back, with either Scalvini or Mancini alongside Bastoni and Calafiori completing the back four.
In midfield, Sandro Tonali and Samuele Ricci were used in the deeper role. Nicolo Barella and Davide Frattesi operated on the right side of the three, while Nicolo Fagioli and Issa Doumbia were tested on the left.
La Gazzetta predicts that three players from Tonali, Barella, Frattesi and Fagioli will start in Paris. Tonali could make his third successive start during this international break.
Pio Esposito has begun both of Italy’s matches so far, but he could make way for Moise Kean. The pair, along with Gianluca Scamacca, were the three centre-forward options used in training on Thursday.
There is also competition for the wide attacking positions. Daniel Maldini and Antonio Vergara were tried on the right, while Sebastiano Esposito and Mohamed Ali Zoma were used on the left.
The provisional line-up is: Gianluigi Donnarumma; Kayode, Scalvini or Mancini, Bastoni, Calafiori; Barella or Frattesi, Tonali, Fagioli; Maldini or Vergara, Kean, Sebastiano Esposito or Zoma.