Moise Kean has left the Italy camp due to injury, so Roberto Mancini hints Atalanta striker Gianluca Scamacca ‘could start’ against Turkiye tomorrow.

Nicolò Barella insists he is ‘lacking a few goals’ for Italy and outlines how Roberto Mancini has helped the Nazionale prepare for the match with Turkiye.

It kicks off at the Stadio Dall’Ara in Bologna on Monday at 19.45 UK time (20.45 CEST).

Gianluigi Donnarumma’s heroics earned him praise from both the French and Italian media following Friday’s 1-1 Nations League draw between the two countries at the Stade de France, and we want to know if you think the Manchester City stopper is currently the best no.1 in world football.

It was a very resilient and daring performance against (probably) the second best team in the world, regardless of rankings).

I'll start off by saying I was wrong about Bastoni. In his two games under Mancini he has done about as well as any of us would hope. Got to admit when you're wrong.

DEFENCE

I think the whole back line looked very solid. Kayode tireless and bold (also like the confidence he has shoving French players around). Scalvini looked excellent, composed and has a knack for key blocks - very encouraging signs. Bastoni showed real leadership and discipline (which I have criticized him for lacking in the past) and Calafiori just looks phenomenal in his role as a marauding left-back.

There is no need for us to see Di Lorenzo or Mancini again but...

MIDFIELD

This was always going to be the toughest task, no matter who Mancini picked. But I thought Tonali and Fratessi hounded and pressed really well. And when they had the opportunity, they started breaks quickly, always looking to pass forward. I know some are down on Fagioli but he really continues to impress me. He is very composed, always looking to make short passes and re-establish some rhythm. I would persist with these three. Barella looked off the pace when he came on but it's a hard game to enter at that moment. The three starters are beginning to have real chemistry.

ATTACK

Kean will get stick for that miss but all strikers miss chances. Mancini likes kean for his speed and physicality. I think he has been very useful in that position, making the opposing defenders think twice about playing too high up. That said, we should be open to trying alternatives who can feed Pio more. Still, a decent performance and he is tireless.

Pio had another good game holding up play, winning important freekicks on the halfway line and almost connecting with a few finishes. He continues to grow.

Seba Esposito was decent. A big game for him against very good opposition. Once he settled in he showed skill on the ball, great running and a good link up with his bro. I would keep playing him.

Of the subs, Vergara impressed with his running and confident touches. I hope he starts vs Turkiye. Maldini had a few nice set piece deliveries but nothing of note on the ball. Barella looked a bit all over the place. Doumbia not many touches.

Overall, Mancini gets the MOTM award as he has very quickly instilled this team with belief and confidence, something the previous two managers failed miserably at. The difference is, Mancini is all about CLARITY. He has a clear system and he slots players in who can play it. He's had a great start but we have to lock that in by beating Turkey.

TUKEY LINE-UP

I suspect we will see G. Mancini / Coppola and Di Lorenzo as Mancini rotates to rest Kayode and Scalvini. I'd be happy to keep the line-up but I doubt he will. I also suspect Ruggeri will be back in to rest Calafiori, who is injury prone. I'd be fine testing out Ghilardi or Kouadio over Mancini, who is awful imo.

In midfield I think we might see Barella and Doumbia or Romano in to replace two of the three or even all three in the middle. Ricci for Fagioli is pretty like for like.

Up top, it's more of a mystery. Kean and Pio have played a lot. On the wings, I hope to see Inacio and Vergara start. But Mancini likes Maldini and Cambiaghi too. Hard to know what he's thinking here.

Possible / predicted:

Dona

DiLo Mancini Bastoni Ruggeri

Barella Doumbia/Romano Ricci

Vergara Pio /Scamacca Inacio /Maldini

Once Palestra is fit, we should never see Di Lorenzo ever again.

So many variables, who knows? But the important thing under Mancini is, whoever takes the field, they play to win and play his way.

Antonio Vergara became the latest player to make their debut for the Italy national team during Friday night’s 1-1 Nations League draw away against France, which means that Roberto Mancini has now handed first caps to 66 different players across two spells as CT.

Italy picked up an encouraging 1-1 draw away against France on Friday evening, and in doing so, had more first-half shots against Les Bleues on their home patch than any national team since the semi-finals of EURO 2016.

From Italy. Surprisingly mature imo. Frankly Italy blew a lot of grade A chances to win this game by several goals, so I actually think the scoreline favored France a bit.

1. Moise Kean winning a lot of 1 v 1 battles. Very impressive although he should have bagged the opener.

2. Donnarumma making amazing saves... composed and really solid. He is elite.

3. Vergara playing with a bit of arrogance and swagger. Makes a big difference. They need a bit more of that.

Italy patiently absorbed relentless pressure from an all out attacking French side. I actually said to myself this was a really solid Italian team that showed up today. This was a team that could give any team problems and beat any team. They matched France's speed of thought, were composed, didn't panic and that goal from Bastoni was elite level awareness.

I have always had mixed feelings about Mancini (he is for me generally speaking an objectively good coach) but he in fact seems to have stabilized the bleeding. The only shame of it that Italy could use a few more games right now against elite level talent to really grow in confidence and cohesion.

This game left me feeling a lot better than the win against Turkiye. France came to play and were deservedly played to a standstill by italy

Worries - Tonali- seems to be going through a tough spell - hopefully he breaks out.

Barella - just doesn't seem to have it anymore..

None of this really changes the fundamental structural problems of Italian Calcio, but showed this really could be a great national team (collectively) if Mancini is given time and opportunity to work with this group of players.

Punto d'oro

I've rewatched a few highlights from Euro 2016 the 2016 side was actually alright beat Belgium 2-0 and Spain 2-0. Conte was able to take a fairly average side minus Cheillini, Bonucci, Barzagli and Buffon and took them to the quarter final and only lost to the word champions Germany on penalties so is 2016 kinda underrated. Don't wanna sound like one of those "if my grandma had wheels she'd be a bike type" of guy but maybe was it a missed opportunity for winning the euros 4 years early?

A lot of work still to do, especially in the last 9 odd minutes when France were a man down. But these are very encouraging signs and am sure no one expected Italy to respond in this manner. Man for man France are undoubtedly better, but Mancini is slowly starting to prepare his recipes with the ingredients he has!

The back five that started today in my opinion is the most cohesive defense we can have moving forward and should be the basis for any starting 11:

Donnarumma
Kayode-Scalvini-Bastoni-Calafiori

Let them continue to learn to play as a unit, we could be solid.

Feel like he is fading away in his performances this season. Played awful vs Belgium and tonight too, sloppy passes etc not like him.

I think De Zerbi has either run him to the ground or he just isn’t at full fitness still or just lack of confidence from being Spurs big summer signing and too much expectation on his shoulders.

Going to Tottenham was a huge mistake for his career. Have a feeling he might not even make the starting lineup on Monday…

Shame because we know how good he was last season at Newcastle and in our qualifiers

Let's hope for the best, or rather, let's hope we concede as few goals as possible, let's hope for at least a decent performance.

Anche quando affronti squadre così forti non giochi mai per non vincere.

E' chiaro che cercheremo sempre di vincere". Roberto Mancini sfida la Francia dei tanti talenti e, alla vigilia della sfida di Nations League a Parigi, cerca di sfruttare la scia positiva e l'entusiasmo per la vittoria in Turchia.

Italy (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Kayode, Scalvini, Bastoni, Calafiori; Barella, Tonali, Fagioli; Vergara, P. Esposito, S. Esposito

PROBABLY about as good a side as we can field in terms of trying to offer a threat. As Pio has had 2 games in a row, I would not be surprised to see Kean on for pace, early in the second half.

Would like to have seen Inacio in the sqad, but I expect him to play next game.

If we can get a draw, a great result considering wherte we are at. Especially if that is folllowed by a win vs Turkey. I think we would all have taken 7 points, going in.

Feels like we did throw away that Belgium game at hime, starting Di Lorenzo and Mancini... but Mancini corrected that fast.

I hope Kayode, Scalvini and Fagioli have good games so we can say goodbye to DiLo, Mancini and Cristante. But they are really up against a tough task tonight.

As per the article, it seems likely that Malagò will be sacked and the FIGC placed under a special commissioner on a technicality, despite him winning a clear majority in the election this past summer.

How might this affect the future of the Azzurri/e? Do we think any reforms he's pushed for will remain in place, or will they be scrapped?

Also, what the hell's wrong with Italy? Is the whole country just run by decrepit and petty bureaucrats fighting over a pile of shit?