Italy line-up doubts against France, but Tonali expected to start

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Football Italia

·4 September 2024

Italy line-up doubts against France, but Tonali expected to start

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Alessandro Bastoni will rest against France, having just recovered from a minor muscle issue, while Sandro Tonali will start in central midfield.

Italy are preparing to meet France in a Nations League group-stage game on Friday. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Luciano Spalletti is expected to start Sandro Tonali in the middle of the park.

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The Newcastle star has just returned from a 10-month betting ban, making two appearances across all competitions with his club.

According to the report, Tonali will start in central midfield against France alongside Samuele Ricci and Lorenzo Pellegrini.

Italy line-up doubts against France, but Tonali expected to start

During Tuesday’s training session covered by Football Italia at Coverciano, Spalletti tested Gatti, Calafiori and Buongiorno in central defence with Federico Dimarco and Andrea Cambiaso on the wings.

According to Gazzetta, they are all expected to start against France, even if Giovanni Di Lorenzo may take the right wing-back spot in place of Cambiaso. Gigio Donnarumma will start in goal, and Mateo Retegui will start in attack.

The Atalanta star was not on the same team as Gatti, Buongiorno, Calafiori, Dimarco and Cambiaso yesterday, while Moise Kean trained separately.

However, according to Gazzetta, the Fiorentina striker may still be available against France, challenging Giacomo Raspadori and Mattia Zaccagni for the second starting spot in attack.

Inter defender Bastoni trained with the rest of the team on Tuesday. He has recovered from muscle fatigue, but he will likely rest against France and play against Israel this coming Monday.

Italy train behind closed doors today and tomorrow (except the opening 15 minutes) and will fly to France on Friday afternoon.