Against Italy, after a first leg match which ended in a happy draw (2-2) in Rome, Domenico Tedesco’s team has a new chance to have fun. Finally, what’s left of the team since a few players are missing, starting with Doku and De Ketelaere, in addition to De Bruyne and Tielemans. If Lukaku’s return is appreciable, the coach will have to find solutions to complete his starting lineup, particularly on the left.
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Fofana was supposed to replace Doku, but the Lyonnais is out. Only Samuel Mbangula remains as a pure left winger, but it is very unlikely that the Juventus player will start. Leandro Trossard could be offbeat, but that hasn’t always been a success. Or a change of system, with a three-way defense, would allow Maxim De Cuyper to occupy the left lane.
Another possibility, based on the names that make up Tedesco’s list, is to strengthen the middle, with an Onana-Mangala-Engels (or Vermeeren) trio. Finally, the hypothesis of an attack with Lukaku and Openda cannot entirely be ruled out.
Donnarumma, Barella… and Lukaku
On the Italian side, everything is going well, four months after an ultra-disappointing Euro. The Squadra is transformed and optimism is reborn around a young generation who are progressing in club and selection. Luciano Spalletti revealed some of his cards this Wednesday during a rather good-natured press conference, a sign that times are better after the summer storm. “Yes, Donnarumma will start in the cages,” warned the coach. “We must show confidence in our players, even when there are doubts around them,” he responded to a question about his mistakes with PSG.
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With Romain Pellegrini absent due to injury, it will probably be Interist Barella who will replace him in support of Retegui, the former Naples coach also suggested. “We also have other options, but it is likely that it will be Barella on the pitch”he admitted before politely rejecting questions from Italian journalists about Lukaku: “Of course he is very strong and he is used to facing the best Italian players. We know that he is very dangerous when he comes on goal, but that will not change the way we play or defend. “
