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[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%
626
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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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Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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