Tonight's Belgium-Italy match (8:45 p.m. in Brussels) gives the Azzurri a sensational chance to finish top of their Nations League group: unthinkable in the first leg, when the Red Devils easily won 0-2 in Rome a month and a half ago. After Thursday's 3-1 victory over France , Roberto Mancini's national team has their fate in their hands, and a draw will be enough to reach the tournament's quarterfinals. A win will also ensure victory regardless of the Blues' result against Turkey (last on zero points).
For tonight, the coach has chosen Alessandro Romano, the only Cagliari player in the squad. Former Rossoblu player Sebastiano Esposito will miss the Belgium-Italy match , having been reprimanded by Mancini on Thursday at the San Siro for attempting to take the penalty (which failed, with the score at 1-1) instead of his brother Francesco Pio. Along with the Sassuolo striker, officially out with an injury, Federico Gatti, Matteo Palma, and Samuele Ricci will also be in the stands. Nicolò Cambiaghi and Davide Frattesi, injured on Thursday, also did not travel to Brussels.
These are Mancini's squad for Belgium-Italy.
Goalkeepers: 12 Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), 1 Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), 13 Guglielmo Vicario (Juventus);
Defenders: 4 Honest Ahanor (Crystal Palace), 6 Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), 5 Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), 11 Federico Dimarco (Inter), 22 Daniele Ghilardi (Roma), 2 Michael Kayode (Brentford), 14 Marco Palestra (Chelsea), 3 Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta);
Midfielders: 18 Nicolò Barella (Inter), 7 Alphadjo Cisse (Milan), 15 Issa Doumbia (Sporting CP), 10 Nicolò Fagioli (Fiorentina), 19 Mattia Liberali (Como), 16 Niccolò Pisilli (Roma), 17 Alessandro Romano (Cagliari), 8 Sandro Tonali (Tottenham);
Forwards: 9 Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), 23 Luca Koleosho (Paris FC), 20 Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), 21 Antonio Vergara (Napoli).