How Italy could line up against Malta

Beaten by England in their first game of Euro 2024 qualifying, reigning champions Italy meet Malta in Ta'Qali on Sunday, when they may shake up their starting XI following an opening-day defeat.

Group C's minnows should prove far less of a threat than the Three Lions, so Azzurri coach Roberto Mancini can afford to take risks and perhaps rest some of his more tried-and-trusted performers: Domenico Berardi and Jorginho could be among those to make way.

Mancini's options have been narrowed further, though, after Nicolo Barella and Leonardo Bonucci both returned to their clubs due to injury, joining attacking trio Ciro Immobile, Giacomo Raspadori and Federico Chiesa on the sidelines. Barella's Inter teammates Alessandro Bastoni and Federico Dimarco are also unavailable.

Such an injury situation leaves Mateo Retegui as favourite to start up front, following his goalscoring debut on Thursday. Gianluca Scamacca is the only other centre-forward still in the squad but has been woefully out of form this year.

In support of the main man will be two wide forwards, assuming Mancini sticks with his preferred 4-3-3 formation, with Wilfried Gnonto and Freiburg's Vincenzo Grifo battling it out to replace Roma captain Lorenzo Pellegrini on the left flank; Matteo Politano may supplant Berardi on the right.

Having made his senior international debut as a 16-year-old last November, Udinese striker Simone Pafundi could even be offered his first few minutes of competitive action for La Nazionale, should the game be going to plan during the second half. There are set to be some changes in defence, too. After a difficult night in Naples, the centre-back pairing of Rafael Toloi and Francesco Acerbi should be split up, as Alessio Romagnoli of Lazio and Atalanta youngster Giorgio Scalvini come into contention.

Italy possible starting lineup: Donnarumma; Darmian, Romagnoli, Scalvini, Spinazzola; Cristante, Verratti, Tonali; Politano, Retegui, Gnonto