Following a 2-0 victory against Northern Ireland, Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso is expected to consider a few adjustments to his starting XI for the crucial World Cup play-off Final clash with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Gattuso Eyes Two Possible Changes for Play-off Final
The Azzurri are gearing up for the World Cup play-off Final, scheduled to take place in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday, March 31.
Italy advanced to the final after defeating Northern Ireland 2-0 in Bergamo on Thursday. Their opponents, Bosnia and Herzegovina, secured their spot by winning a penalty shootout against Wales.
With several days to prepare, head coach Gennaro Gattuso is reportedly contemplating a couple of changes to the lineup for the decisive final match.
A key area of concern is the fitness of Alessandro Bastoni. The Inter defender recently returned from a two-week layoff, playing against Northern Ireland before being substituted around the 60-minute mark after receiving a yellow card. If fully fit, Bastoni is expected to keep his place. However, if he’s not ready to start, Federico Gatti is considered the frontrunner to step in, potentially alongside Gianluca Mancini and Riccardo Calafiori in a three-man defensive setup, ahead of Alessandro Buongiorno and Giorgio Scalvini.
The other significant lineup dilemma for Gattuso lies in the attacking department, particularly after Pio Esposito’s promising performance as a substitute and Mateo Retegui’s notable miss during the Northern Ireland game.
Italy and Inter legend Beppe Bergomi has also weighed in, suggesting that Pio Esposito, who boasts an impressive three goals in six international appearances, warrants consideration for a starting role in the Final.
