Italy: Gattuso shuffles final training; Kean partners Retegui
Match Details and Stakes
Italy will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 2026 World Cup play‑off final in Zenica on Tuesday 31 March, with kick‑off set for 8.45 pm.
Training Session Insights
All 28 called‑up players took part in the final session at Coverciano, where Head Coach Gennaro Gattuso ran an 11‑a‑side practice match on a reduced pitch after a muscle warm‑up and keep‑away drill.
Possible Line‑up Clues
The white team lined up in a 3‑5‑2 with a rotating goalkeeper, Scalvini, Bastoni, Calafiori; Cambiaso, Frattesi, Cristante, Tonali, Dimarco; and the strike partnership of Kean and Retegui. The yellow team featured a rotating goalkeeper, Mancini, Gatti, Buongiorno; Politano, Barella, Locatelli, Pisilli, Spinazzola; Raspadori and Esposito.
- Politano and Bastoni have recovered from injury and participated fully.
- Frattesi and Cristante were preferred over Barella and Locatelli in midfield.
- Mancini was not at his best, opening the possibility for Scalvini to cover right‑back.
- Politano could be rested, with Cambiaso ready to replace him.
The Kean‑Retegui strike partnership was tried out together once again, meaning the Argentine is now ahead of Pio Esposito in the pecking order.
Looking Ahead
Gattuso’s tactical shuffling suggests a flexible approach as Italy prepares for the decisive play‑off clash against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
