Italy are on the pitch tonight against Belgium in the Nations League, kick-off at 8.45pm. Coach Luciano Spalletti is very sure of his players, sure above all that he can count on the players who have made a significant change, “the attack is always observed: it will be entrusted to Retegui, starting from the center forward of 3 in the last 4 games and at high altitude 6 goals in the blue shirt”. An important commitment in Brussels for the Azzurri who aim to advance to the direct elimination round and then play for first place in the group in the match against France next Sunday.
Euro 2024 – Training for the Italian national football team in Iserlohn, Germany (Associated Press/LaPresse)
Spalletti’s words
tg3 report by Jacopo Cecconi in Italy-Israel Luciano Spalletti appeal (Tg3)
“At the moment, the possibility of joining Kean is out of the question, because the coach intends to keep him safe for France on Sunday at San Siro because of a small ankle problem. and Maldini Even in the midfield, without Ricci due to injury, there are doubts to be resolved, beyond the left midfield shirt already assigned to Tonali: in the playmaker between Lazio’s Rovella (who made his debut), the acquired Juventus player Locatelli and the discovered Barella (10 goals for the Azzurri), which will thus leave the right position inside his Inter teammate Frattesi (8 goals) “
“Only in defense, apart from the little goalkeeper problem between Donnarumma and Vicario, there are certainties. Calafiori’s injury opens the doors for Buongiorno to lead the 3-man line with Napoli team-mate Di Lorenzo and Bastoni. The goal is clear: keep the door clean”, criticized the well-known national newspaper. Buongiorno could challenge his teammate Romelu Lukaku, who returns to wear the Belgium shirt.
Euro 2024 – Training for the Italian national football team in Iserlohn, Germany (Associated Press/LaPresse)
Only one point is missing for Italy to advance to the direct elimination phase of the Nations League for the third time in a row: for this reason the match against Belgium in Brussels is of great value for Spalletti’s national team.
The Azzurri needed this point to progress after a 2-2 home draw with Belgium. A match was decided, perhaps, by the dismissal of Pellegrini at the end of the first half, when the Azzurri were leading 2-0. Numerical inferiority is decisive for the return of Belgium with 4 points almost from the qualifying race: to return to the game they need to beat Italy.
Italy is coming from a great victory, 4-1 against Israel, but for Mister Spalletti there are some training problems to solve, the absence of Ricci in the middle of the pitch due to injury (Locatelli then called) complicates the game, the In fact, he is a man of balance but also knows how to go into space and play one-on-one.
Euro 2024 – Training for the Italian national football team in Iserlohn, Germany (Associated Press/LaPresse)
If the Azzurri reach the qualification at the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels, the direct match against France scheduled for Sunday 17 November will involve first place. The Azzurri lead with 10 points, the Bleus in second place with 9 points but they have a simple round, on paper, against Israel. It is likely that everything will be decided in the match between Spalletti and Deschamps: the Azzurri also have the advantage of winning their debut at the Parc des Princes with a shocking 3-1 on their return to the field after a disastrous experience in Europe. . In the previous matches played in Brussels between Belgium and Italy the game was completely the same: two victories each.
The game, on the side of the Azzurri
Belgium, who are currently third with just 4 points, will have to win to avoid finding themselves in the playoffs needed to avoid relegation to League B, after suffering two defeats against France.
For the game in Brussels, Spalletti had to stop, as told to Ricci, forced to withdraw due to an injury. In the Italian team, which lined up in a 3-5-2 (or 3-5-1-1) formation, Rovella from Lazio had to take his place in the middle of the pitch, sidelined by Tonali and one of Barella or Frattesi. On the flanks, Cambiaso on the right and Dimarco on the left are expected to be used. In defence, Buongiorno is again the central point of reference, supported by Di Lorenzo and Bastoni. Up front, the choice is between Retegui and Kean, both in good form for their respective teams: the Atalanta striker has scored 11 goals in the league, while the Fiorentina striker has scored 8. Retegui seems to be the favorite to team up with Raspadori, with Kean ready to enter the race.
The introductions
Favorable record against Belgium in the Azzurri: 16 wins in 25 games played, with 5 draws and 4 losses. Italy scored 47 goals against the Red Devils, conceding 26. Then, away from home, Italy has a positive record, with 5 wins in 8 games played in Belgium, where Lukaku & co . they achieved 3 successes, all in Brussels. Italy is unbeaten in the last four games: in addition to the draw in the first leg, the Azzurri won two games in 2021, in the Nations League and the European Championships, and one in 2016, also in the European Championships. The last success of the Red Devils started in 2015, when they won 3-1 in a friendly.
Italian national football team, Giacomo Raspadori (Getty)
Possible lineups
Belgium (4-2-3-1): Castles; Castagne, Faes, Debast, Theate; Tielemans, Mangala; Lukebachio, De Ketelaere, Doku; Lukaku. Everything. German.
Italy (3-5-1-1): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Buongiorno, Bastoni; Cambiaso, Barella, Rovella, Tonali, Dimarco; Raspadori; Retegui. Coach Spalletti.
The match between Belgium and Italy, valid for the fifth round of Group 2 of League A of the Nations League 2024/25, will be broadcast live on Rai 1 at 8.45pm and also available for streaming on RaiPlay and on Rainews.it