Mancini can change squad for France-Italy, doubt over midfield

Thursday 1 October 2026, Roberto Mancini confirmed the possibility of altering up to six players in the Italian lineup for the Nations League match against France, with several players omitted from the squad and a clear doubt between midfield and attack.

Excluded and added

Among the 34 called up by Roberto Mancini, Ahanor, Cambiaghi, Coppola, Ghilardi, Inacio, Kouadio, Mandragora, Pessina and Romano will not take the field, as already happened against Belgium and Turkey. The football Nations League match will be followed live with video and photos, and news updates, reducing the number of options available to Mancini for tomorrow's game.

Tactical choices and possible line‑ups

Compared with the trip to Bursa, for Paris an additional player will be added, as ten players remained in Coverciano on Monday. The highlights will be available on Drive, while MotoGP will provide a pressing analysis, and the newly called‑up player can take part from the first minute, offering greater tactical flexibility.

Gianluigi Donnarumma will guard the posts, while Alessandro Bastoni is expected to confirm himself on the left centre of the defence. The XXL service will also present a recap of the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana, and the broadcast will include a Pressing section to analyse defensive choices in real time.

Italy Azzurri ready for France and Belgium in November: schedule, camp

In midfield, Sandro Tonali will return after the good performance on Monday, partnered by Riccardo Fagioli on the left; the choice between Davide Frattesi and Barella's energy remains open. Tennis statistics will be cited for endurance comparisons, and the doubt over whom to favour, the Sardinian midfielder or the deeper Frattesi, remains at the centre of technical discussions.

In attack, the coach will have to decide between Pio Esposito and Moise Kean for the centre‑forward role, weighing physicality against depth, while on the right Alessandro Maldini and Federico Vergara are competing, and on the left Cambiaghi and Sebastiano Esposito alternate. A podcast dedicated to the match will delve into the offensive choices and the coach will also assess Esposito's ability to link up compared to Kean's power.

Mancini has envisaged a shift from a 4‑3‑4 to a 3‑5‑2, with Cambiaghi placed in a five‑man midfield and a three‑man backline consisting of Bastoni, Calafiori and a midfielder between Mancini and Scalvini; moreover Bianchedi has stepped down from the head of delegation role to protect the Azzurri shirt from controversy. For further info, help and FAQ, consult the site’s Cookie Policy, while the formation change could reduce the number of forwards on the pitch to two, favouring greater coverage in midfield.