Roberto Mancini’s first Italy XI for tonight’s friendly with Saudi Arabia is a 4-3-3 formation with the return of Mario Balotelli.
It kicks off in St Gallen, Switzerland, at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).
Follow the build-up and action as it happens while giving your views on the LIVEBLOG.
Roberto Mancini’s first Italy XI for tonight’s friendly with Saudi Arabia is a 4-3-3 formation with the return of Mario Balotelli.
It kicks off in St Gallen, Switzerland, at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).
Follow the build-up and action as it happens while giving your views on the LIVEBLOG.
The Azzurri start a new era after Giampiero Ventura failed to get them to the 2018 World Cup, and will also face France in a friendly on June 1, then host the Netherlands in Turin on June 4.
The biggest change under Mancini is the return of Balotelli, as the Nice striker hasn’t pulled on the Italy jersey since the 2014 World Cup, despite scoring regularly in Ligue 1 over the last couple of campaigns.
He leads a trident attack, flanked by Napoli’s Lorenzo Insigne and on-form Sassuolo winger Matteo Politano.
Jorginho, also of Napoli, takes the midfield reins with Roma pair Alessandro Florenzi and Lorenzo Pellegrini.
It’s an all-Milan centre-back pairing with Leonardo Bonucci and Alessio Romagnoli, while Chelsea’s Davide Zappacosta is at right-back.
Domenico Criscito also makes his Italy return after a long time on the sidelines, having worked with Mancini only this season at Zenit St Petersburg.
He has now come back to Serie A and signed for Genoa.
Gigi Buffon pulled out of contention for these friendlies, but has said he’s open to return if he impresses enough at Paris Saint-Germain.
Bonucci wears the captain’s armband for his 78th senior cap, on a par with Alessandro Nesta and Gaetano Scirea.
Unlike Italy, Saudi Arabia are in the 2018 World Cup, as they will face hosts Russia, Uruguay and Egypt.
The Green Falcons even got a pep speech from Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman at the weekend.
Italy: Donnarumma; Zappacosta, Bonucci, Romagnoli, Criscito; Florenzi, Jorginho, Pellegrini; Politano, Balotelli, Insigne
Italy bench: Sirigu, Perin, Caldara, D'Ambrosio, De Sciglio, Rugani, Baselli, Bonaventura, Cristante, Mandragora, Belotti, Berardi
Saudi Arabia: Al-Owais; Al-Harbi, Hawsawi, Othman, Alfaraj, Alshehri, Alshahrani, Otayf, Aljassam, Kanoo, Abu Radiyah
Saudi Arabia bench: Almuaiouf, Almosailem, Alqarni, Hajfali, Alburayk, Bahbri, Alsahlawi, Alkahaibri, Almowalad, Alkhaibari, Almoqahwi, Alabid, Almuwallad, Alkuwaykibi, Hawsawi, Albulayhi, Aldawsari
Ref: Scharer (SWI)