Italy lineup vs. France: Predicted XI for UEFA Nations League contest, as Kean and Retegui battle for striker's role

With a place in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals already assured with one game to spare, Italy can afford to make some personnel changes when they meet France on Sunday.

The Azzurri are still top of League A Group 2 after beating Belgium in midweek, so Luciano Spalletti may be tempted to tinker with his starting XI, in spite of facing such strong opposition.

Leading the way in this season's Serie A scoring charts, Atalanta BC striker Mateo Retegui has become first-choice frontman since the Euros, but Moise Kean replaced him from the bench on Thursday and could be rewarded for some stellar club form with a rare international start.

Against Belgium, Spalletti deployed Nicolo Barella in a new trequartista role, flitting between midfield and attack, though Giacomo Raspadori or Daniel Maldini would occupy that spot should the Inter Milan man be dropped back into his more accustomed position.

Having been drafted in to replace injured Torino midfielder Samuele Ricci, Manuel Locatelli will again compete with Nicolo Rovella for selection as a deep-lying midfielder; Sandro Tonali and Davide Frattesi are also vying for places in the engine room.

As Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori and long-term absentee Giorgio Scalvini are unavailable, Alessandro Buongiorno should continue to deputise in defence, having built on a fine start for new club Napoli by being picked for Italy's starting XI on Thursday; Fiorentina teenager Pietro Comuzzo is another option.

Featuring behind a now familiar 3-5-1-1 formation, captain Gianluigi Donnarumma is set to earn his 71st senior cap at the tender age of 25.

Italy possible starting lineup: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Buongiorno, Bastoni; Cambiaso, Barella, Locatelli, Tonali, Dimarco; Maldini; Kean

> Click here to see how France could line up for this UEFA Nations League contest