Italy XI vs Moldova Predicted Lineup and Latest Team News

Basio badr

ago 2 hours

Italy is preparing for a critical World Cup 2026 qualifying match against Moldova on Thursday. A victory is essential for Italy to keep their direct qualification hopes alive. Although they have secured a playoff spot, topping Group I remains mathematically possible if they can achieve convincing victories against both Moldova and Norway.

Italy XI vs Moldova: Predicted Lineup and Latest Team News

Head coach Gennaro Gattuso has announced a 27-man squad for the matches against Moldova and Norway. He plans to rotate the starting lineup, giving opportunities to players who have had limited playing time. “For the Moldova match, we’ll field players who haven’t played much, but our focus remains on our performance rather than Norway’s,” Gattuso stated in his pre-match briefing.

Key Player Absences

Nicolò Barella: Suspended due to a yellow card received in the match against Israel in October.
Moise Kean: Out with an injury despite scoring six goals in his last four games for Fiorentina.
Federico Chiesa: Has opted out of the squad due to ongoing fitness issues.
Giacomo Raspadori: Sustained a minor injury during training and is awaiting evaluation.

Conversely, Gianluca Scamacca is back after recovering from muscle issues that sidelined him in September. Additionally, Alessandro Buongiorno and Samuele Ricci return to the squad following breaks since March and June. Goalkeeper Elia Caprile, who has been impressive this season with Cagliari, receives his first national team call-up. Meanwhile, Andrea Cambiaso, Davide Frattesi, and Sandro Tonali are all just one yellow card away from suspension, making it crucial for them to avoid bookings before the decisive match against Norway on Sunday.