These are the probable formations:
LITHUANIA (4-1-4-1): Svedkauskas; Mikollunis, Gaspuitis, Beneta, Valtkunas; Simkus; Novikov, Dapkus, Eilosius, Lasickas; Cernych. Allenator: Urbonas. ITALY (4-3-3): Sirigu; Toloi, Acerbi, Bastoni, Emerson; Pessina, Locatelli, Pellegrini; Church, Building, Bernardeschi. Coach: Mancini.
ARBITRO: Raczkowski (Polonia).
TV: live on Rai 1 from 8.45 pm
Hunting for Marcello Lippi, but with a stormy heart. Roberto Mancini does not trust Lithuania, the third match in six days on the road to Qatar. Apparently a kind of health walk, considering that our rivals are in 129th place in the World rankings and are struggling in League C of Nations League. But football, at the time of the pandemic, plays tricks and Italy cannot afford false steps. Even a draw would be enough to match the wonderful streak of Marcello Lippi, 25 consecutive useful results, which coincided with the unforgettable night in Berlin in 2006. «Marcello managed to put together a strong team day after day. We are trying to do the same thing. I hope to recognize myself in him even more in two years and be able to do what they did … ». That is to say, to win the World Cup, not even Mancini’s secret hope.
The journey to glory also passes through the stadium of Vilnius where we have everything to lose. The Azzurri need three points to keep Switzerland behind, who are resting this time. Watch out for the traps, from the synthetic ground we are not used to, the tiredness of the team, up to the shadow of the championship that is approaching threatening and could authorize bad thoughts on the concentration of some players. «Lithuania it is a physical team that will welcome us in the same way as Ireland and Bulgaria, that is, thinking above all about defending themselves. It will not be an easy match, in Switzerland they only lost 1-0 ». It is no secret that when spaces get smaller, Italy is less brilliant. In traffic we don’t always manage to develop our airy and fast game. “If we want to win, we can’t leave anything to chance,” explained Mancio. That keeps the players under pressure.
The coach will decide the formation only after training this morning and last night he went to sleep with many doubts in all departments, especially what concerns the center forward: it will be true, that is Immobile, or false, the eclectic Bernardeschi who, alternatively, he should play outside with Chiesa, defended by Mancini with a drawn sword. «Federico is fine and arouses fear in his opponents. For us he is a very important player ». Sirigu could play in goal, in defense it is probable the debut of Toloi and in the center three players dance for two places: Gianluca Mancini, Bastoni and Acerbi. On the left, an Emerson and Biraghi jersey are competing. In midfield possible use of Pessina with Lorenzo Pellegrini and Locatelli, but Soriano is also at stake. In any case it will be a team of reservists. There will be a maximum of two real owners in the field. In Lithuania, in the World Cup qualifiers, we also scored 0-0 20 years ago. This time the draw would be an assist to Switzerland before finding it against the European Championship.
March 30, 2021 (change March 30, 2021 | 23:04)
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