MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 20: Italy’s Giacomo Raspadori reacts during the UEFA Nations League quarter-final leg 1 match between Italy and Germany at Stadio San Siro on March 20, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
Giacomo Raspadori played a different role alongside Matteo Retegui, while Manuel Locatelli and Gianluca Mancini were included in Italy’s squad for this World Cup qualifier against Israel.
The match will kick off at 19:45 UK time (18:45 GMT) at Udine’s Stadio Friuli.
You can follow all the builds and action happening on our live blog.
The Azzurri beat this team 5-4 in an unexpectedly exciting encounter last month, giving them a chance to secure a play-off spot behind Norway.
Due to safety concerns, only 10,000 people are expected to be inside the stadium, and protests are being organized outside the arena, but fewer than they would have been had the Gaza ceasefire not been in effect.
Coach Gennaro Gattuso has won every game so far, but has been forced to make some changes after Alessandro Bastoni was suspended after the 3-1 win against Estonia and Moise Kean sprained his ankle.
This will allow Roma defender Mancini to come on as a substitute and change the system to a 3-5-2, with Raspadri switching from a wide attacking role to co-striking with Retegui.
Francesco Pio Esposito is on the bench and ready to play after scoring his first goal for Italy.
This means that Juventus’ Locatelli will be included in the starting XI to strengthen the midfield, with priority over Brian Cristante.
Israel have won all of their games in this group except against Norway and Italy, so this will be a head-to-head battle for a playoff spot.
They had just lost 5-4 to the Nazionale last month, but were upset at the weekend’s 5-0 defeat against Norway, with two own goals and Daniel Peretz saving Erling Haaland’s penalty.
Despite this save, Peretz did not start as Omri Glazer was cleared to play.
Idan Nahumias was forced off with an injury early in the game, and was replaced by Matan Bartaksa in defence.
Italy vs Israel official lineup
Italy: Donnarumma. Di Lorenzo, Mancini, Calafioli. Cambiaso, Tonali, Locatelli, Barella, DiMarco. Letegui, Raspadori
Italian bench: Meretto, Vicario, Gabbia, Spinazzola, Udoge, Orsolini, Piccoli, Esposito, Cristante, Frattessi, Cambiaghi, Coppola.
Israel: Glaser. Dasa, Vartaxa, Brolian, Libibo. E. Peretz, Gluk, Hariri; Biton, Balibo, Solomon
Israeli bench: Daniel Peretz, Tour, Gandelman, Schuur, Azoulay, Noy, Mizrahi, Abu Fani, Gropper, Turziman, Stoynov, Toriel.
Reference: Turpin (FRA)
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