Mancini, Turkey‑Italy is not a playoff: farewell to Barella

The lights of the Ataturk Spor Kompleksi in Bursa turn on at 9 p.m., when Roberto Mancini's Azzurri will take the field for the Nations League showdown against Turkey. After the knockout on the debut against Belgium, Italy is seeking redemption, while the head coach has just spoken to the microphones of Rai Sport.

Mancini's words after Belgium

"Against Belgium I saw positive things, there's no one to massacre," Mancini said, emphasizing that tonight's match "won't be a play-off". The coach highlighted that the Belgian performance hasn't erased the opportunities for his players.

The captain then explained the decision to leave out Nicolò Barella: "It wasn't difficult to give him up because we know his worth, but these matches are for us to get to know the younger players". Mancini added that if the youngsters don't appear in the match, they cannot be assessed even in two training sessions.

Muddy rain in Bursa forces Mancini to cancel Italy's tune-up

Probable line‑ups for the showdown

For Italy, the confirmed formation is 4-3-3 with Guglielmo Cremonese in goal, a defence made up of Kayode, Scalvini, Bastoni and Ruggeri, and midfielders Frattesi, Tonali and Fagioli. Up front they should line up Raspadori, Scamacca and Cambiaghi.

Turkey start with a 3-4-2-1: Bayindir in goal, a three‑man defence with Celik, Demiral and Bardakci, midfield with Aydin, Ozcan, Yuksek and Kadioglu, and attack with Guler, Uzun and Yilmaz. The head coach is Montella.

Rain in Bursa forces Azzurri to wake up in hotel before Nations League

This match is crucial for Italy's hopes in the Nations League, as the team must absolutely secure a positive result to stay in contention. The encounter will also give young talents the chance to showcase their worth on an international stage.