The players are emerging from the tunnel and kick-off is just moments away.
Italy are in fantastic form coming into this Nations League clash and haven’t tasted defeat now for over 800 days across all competitions. Their last competitive loss came against Portugal in the first edition of the Nations League back in September 2018.
With Chellini and Bonucci both out injured, PSG full-back Florenzi is chosen as captain for tonight’s fixture in Bosnia. Elsewhere on the pitch there’s only one change for Roberto Mancini’s side as Berardi – who makes his first competitive start for the visitors – replaces Bernardeschi on the right wing. Barella, Jorginho and Locatelli all start in midfield and Belotti leads the line up front once again.
After losing 3-1 to the Netherlands on Sunday evening, Bosnia boss Dusan Bajevic decides to slightly shuffle his pack for the visit of group leaders Italy. With a lot of recent positive COVID-19 tests among their ranks – star man Edin Dzeko again misses out. Bosnia also only have one senior goalkeeper available for this clash after Ibrahim Sehic pulled out of the squad. In more positive news for the home side, Barcelona midfielder Pjanic captains his side again from central midfield whilst Prevljak grabs his first international start up front.
ITALY SUBS: Salvatore Sirigu, Alex Meret, Danilo D’Ambrosio, Sandro Tonali, Alessio Romagnoli, Kevin Lasagna, Davide Calabria, Roberto Soriano, Matteo Pessina, Fernando Bernardeschi, Riccardo Orsolini, Giovanni Di Lorenzo.
ITALY (4-3-3): Gianluigi Donnarumma; Alessandro Florenzi, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni, Emerson; Nicolo Barella, Jorginho, Manuel Locatelli; Domenico Berardi, Andrea Belotti, Lorenzo Insigne.
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA SUBS: Belmin Dizdarevic, Luka Kacavenda, Bojan Nastic, Darko Todorovic, Almedin Ziljkic, Edin Visca, Irfan Hadzic, Vladan Danilovic, Amar Rahmanovic, Adnan Kovacevic, Stjepan Loncar, Deni Milosevic.
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA (4-3-3): Kenan Piric; Josip Corluka, Dennis Hadzikadunic, Sinisa Sanicanin, Advan Kadusic; Gojko Cimirot, Miralem Pjanic, Rade Krunic; Benjamin Tatar, Smail Prevljak, Amer Gojak.
With Italy currently top of Nations League Group A1 and Bosnia destined to finish bottom after some poor performances in this year’s competitions, the visitors come into this clash as heavy favourites. With a win tonight the Azzurri are guaranteed to finish top of this group and take their place in October’s Nations League finals alongside France, Spain and either Denmark or Belgium.
Hello and welcome to our live text commentary of this Nations League fixture between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Italy!
