How Germany could line up against Italy

Having swept into this winter's World Cup in typically comprehensive style, Germany now begin their latest UEFA Nations League campaign on Saturday, as they face Italy in Bologna.

Head coach Hansi Flick leads his players heading into an opening quartet of fixtures over the coming fortnight, and several of the fresh talents brought in during the last year once again feature in the former Bayern Munich manager's squad.

Set to complete a move to Borussia Dortmund at the end of his contract this summer, 22-year-old Freiburg defender Nico Schlotterbeck should start in the visitors' back four, while teenage midfielder Jamal Musiala has already earned 11 senior caps and may feature in the first XI too.

Having demonstrated loyalty to Timo Werner as his main striker since taking over from Joachim Low, it is likely that Flick will again select the Chelsea man ahead of another Dortmund-bound starlet, Karim Adeyemi, up front.

A trio of experienced squad members are omitted for this month's get-together, as goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Matthias Ginter and Julian Draxler are not involved, but Germany's 2021 Player of the Year Joshua Kimmich returns following his absence from both friendlies in March and Leon Goretzka has overcome an ankle problem.

Kimmich's Bayern Munich teammate Thomas Muller is set to feature in the front four, with fellow Bundesliga champions Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane also poised to start.

Versatile forward Kai Havertz is available to Flick too, and 48-cap Dortmund skipper Marco Reus provides yet another attacking option from the bench if he can recover from an illness in time.

Germany possible starting lineup: Neuer; Kehrer, Rudiger, Schlotterbeck, Raum; Kimmich, Goretzka; Gnabry, Muller, Sane; Werner

> Click here to see how Italy could line up for their Nations League opener