Fresh off a stunning victory in Paris, Italy looks to maintain their momentum as they face Israel in their second UEFA Nations League Group 2 fixture on Monday. The match will take place in Hungary due to security concerns in Israel.
The Azzurri’s campaign got off to a dream start with a 3-1 win over France, marking their first victory in Paris in 70 years. Despite conceding within seconds of kickoff, Italy showed remarkable resilience, mounting a comeback that saw goals from Federico Dimarco, Davide Frattesi, and Giacomo Raspadori.
Under new manager Luciano Spalletti, Italy has embraced a tactical shift, employing a three-man defense and introducing fresh faces to the squad. This approach seems to have rejuvenated the team following their disappointing Euro 2024 campaign.
Israel, meanwhile, faces an uphill battle in their quest to avoid relegation from League A. They suffered a 3-1 defeat to Belgium in their opener, despite briefly equalizing. The team, led by Ran Ben Shimon, is playing its home games in Hungary due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Team News
For Italy, Riccardo Calafiori is expected to recover from a minor injury, while Gianluca Scamacca and Nicolo Barella remain sidelined. Spalletti may opt to start Giacomo Raspadori alongside Mateo Retegui in attack.
Israel will likely field a relatively inexperienced side, with Manor Solomon captaining the team in the absence of the injured Eli Dasa. The attacking trio of Solomon, Oscar Gloukh, and Anan Khalaili could pose a threat to the Italian defense.
Expected Stating XI
Israel: Gerafi; Shlomo, Nachmias, Gandelman; Jehezkel, Lavi, Peretz, Gropper; Solomon, Gloukh; Khalaili
Italy: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Buongiorno, Bastoni; Cambiaso, Ricci, Tonali, Frattesi, Dimarco; Raspadori, Retegui
