MX23RW : Monday, December 23 06:21:23| >> :600:394634:394634:
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Italy national football team
World Cup Qualifying - Europe | Group Stage
Sep 8, 2021 at 7.45pm UK
 
Lithuania national football team

Italy
5 - 0
Lithuania

Kean (11', 29'), Utkus (14' og.), Raspadori (24'), Di Lorenzo (54')
FT(HT: 4-0)

How Italy could line up against Lithuania

How Italy could line up against Lithuania
© Reuters
Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how leaders Italy could line up for Wednesday's World Cup Qualifying Group C clash with winless Lithuania.

As European champions Italy prepare to host winless Lithuania in their World Cup qualifying encounter on Wednesday, Roberto Mancini's XI is set to have an overhaul.

Still top of Group C following two consecutive draws to start this month's qualification triple-header, the Azzurri's quest to reach Qatar 2022 may be led - for 90 minutes at least - by a new-look side.

Mancini has confirmed that changes must be made, as his team had barely recovered from the summer's exploits before entering a new league season and now a hectic international period.

Therefore, strikers Giacomo Raspadori and Moise Kean are in contention for a start ahead of the misfiring Ciro Immobile (Torino's Andrea Belotti was ruled out last week with an injury), while Domenico Berardi's place is also under threat due to a fruitless showing in Switzerland at the weekend.

The former pair's fellow young guns, Alessandro Bastoni and Nicolo Zaniolo are possible inclusions in La Nazionale's defence and midfield respectively, while uncapped Gianluca Scamacca is an outsider to feature up front.

Given the limited nature of their opposition, Mancini will almost certainly allow veteran centre-back Giorgio Chiellini a night off, but Emerson Palmieri may start again in the lamented absence of star left-back Leonardo Spinazzola - though Fiorentina's Cristiano Biraghi is an alternative.

Roma midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini has started the new campaign in good form, so will be among those - including Matteo Pessina, Bryan Cristante and Stefano Sensi - vying for a rare opportunity in the Italian engine room, with at least some of the established trio benched.

Italy possible starting lineup: Donnarumma; Calabria, Bastoni, Bonucci, Emerson; Locatelli, Verratti, Zaniolo; Chiesa, Raspadori, Insigne

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Written by
Jonathan O'Shea
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How you voted: Italy vs Lithuania

Italy
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Draw
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Lithuania
8.4%
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Italy's Domenico Berardi celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on March 25, 2021
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