Coach Roberto Mancini has lined up Pio and Sebastiano Esposito in his attacking trio for the second matchday of the Nations League against Turkey. The match will be played on September 28, 2026, with the Azzurri lineup featuring several new players.
Turkey responded with a 3-4-2-1 formation: Bayindir in goal, with Celik, Demiral, and Bardakci in defense; Aydin, Ozcan, Kokcu, and Elmali in midfield; Yilmaz behind the lone striker, supported by Guler and Uzun. Coach Montella led the visitors.
Italy responded with a revamped 4-3-3. Donnarumma was in goal, Kayode was on the right in defense, Scalvini and Bastoni were in the middle (the latter returning from suspension), and Ruggeri was on the left. In midfield, Tonali played as a holding midfielder, flanked by Frattesi and Fagioli. Up front, the surprise was the young Pio Esposito, who joined his brother Sebastiano and Raspadori.
Coach Mancini adapted his team given the reduced presence of only ten Azzurri players at Coverciano, with three starters returning from the previous match against Belgium (Barella, Mancini and Coppola) and thus decided to change the formation and some key players for this Nations League match.
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