As Italy prepares to face Germany in the Nations League quarter-final, their starting lineup is becoming clearer, including an unexpected midfield selection and a new attacking partnership.

The match is set to kick off at San Siro on Thursday at 19:45 GMT, with the return leg scheduled for Sunday evening in Dortmund.

Mattia Zaccagni and Andrea Cambiaso continue to train separately in the gym, raising doubts about their availability for the crucial weekend fixture.

Atalanta striker and current Serie A top scorer Mateo Retegui has left the squad due to a muscle injury, resolving one question about the starting forwards. Moise Kean is now expected to partner with Giacomo Raspadori in attack.

Spalletti Prepares to Shake Up Italy’s Formation

After experimenting with Alessandro Buongiorno in a three-man defense yesterday, coach Luciano Spalletti tested Riccardo Calafiori today, with the Arsenal player likely to start.

Notably, Lazio midfielder Nicolò Rovella was used for the second consecutive day, suggesting he may have surpassed Torino’s Samuele Ricci in the pecking order.

Matteo Politano and Destiny Udogie are set to fill the wing-back positions in a 3-5-2 formation.

Probable Italy lineup (3-5-2): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Calafiori, Bastoni; Politano, Barella, Rovella, Tonali, Udogie; Raspadori, Kean