Italy will be without key defender Riccardo Calafiori today when they play Switzerland in the last 16 at the 2024 European Championship.
The Bologna centre-back has taken his impressive form in Serie A so far into the European Championship, but two yellow cards have earned him an automatic one-match ban before the knockout stages begin.
Italy have a number of options to replace Calafiori, with Roma’s Gianluca Mancini the most likely candidate, followed by Juventus’ Federico Gatti and Torino defender Alessandro Buongiorno.
Azzurri boss Luciano Spalletti must also decide whether to stick with the 3-5-2 formation used in the last draw against Croatia, which would also suit Switzerland’s line-up, or revert to the 4-2-3-1 system from earlier in the tournament.
The possible recall of Federico Chiesa will be a major talking point ahead of the match as Italy are not dangerous in goal. Group stage hero Mattia Zaccagni could also start in the starting line-up, but Spalletti has few attractive alternatives.
Mateo Regetui, Gianluca Scamacca and Giacomo Raspadori have all done little to suggest they should start in Berlin.
In midfield, Davide Frattesi could be a more forward-thinking option than Lorenzo Pellegrini or Jorginho. Left back Federico Dimarco is out with a calf injury.
Predicted Italy XI: Donnarumma; Darmian, Bastoni, Mancini; Church, Frattesi, Jorginho, Barella, Dimarco; Retegui, Zaccagni
Suspended: Calafiori
Injured: Dimarco
Time and date: 5:00pm BST on Saturday 29th June 2024
Location: Olympiastadion, Berlin
TV channel: BBC One
