Luciano Spalletti must find a replacement for suspended defender Riccardo Calafiori when Italy face Switzerland in the last-16 at Euro 2024.
The Bologna centre-back has carried his impressive Serie A form into the Euros but two bookings have landed him with a one-game ban as the knockouts begin.
Italy have a number of options to replace Calafiori with Roma’s Gianluca Mancini the most likely candidate ahead of Juventus’ Federico Gatti and Torino defender Alessandro Buongiorno.
Spalletti must also decide whether to stick with the 3-5-2 formation used in the last-gasp draw against Croatia, which would also match up with Switzerland’s setup, or return to the 4-2-3-1 from earlier in the tournament.
Federico Chiesa’s potential recall will be a big topic ahead of the match given the Azzurri’s lack of threat on goal, with group-stage hero Mattia Zaccagni another in the mix to start but Spalletti has a lack of attractive alternatives.
Mateo Regetui, Gianluca Scamacca and Giacomo Raspadori have all done little to suggest they have to start in Berlin.
In midfield, Davide Frattesi could be a more forward-thinking option than either Lorenzo Pellegrini or Jorginho.
Predicted Italy XI: Donnarumma; Darmian, Bastoni, Mancini; Chiesa, Frattesi, Jorginho, Barella, Dimarco; Retegui, Zaccagni
Suspended: Calafiori
Time and date: 5pm, Saturday June 29, 2024
Venue: Olympiastadion, Berlin
TV channel: BBC One
