Gianluigi Donnarumma to start for Italy against France, Tonali and Pio Esposito could join | OneFootball

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Gianluigi Donnarumma to start for Italy against France, Tonali and Pio Esposito could join | OneFootball

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·1 October 2026

Gianluigi Donnarumma to start for Italy against France, Tonali and Pio Esposito could join

Article image:Gianluigi Donnarumma to start for Italy against France, Tonali and Pio Esposito could join

Gianluigi Donnarumma will make a third successive start under Roberto Mancini when Italy face France at 20:45 on Friday at the Stade de France.

According to L'Équipe, the Italy head coach offered no hints on Thursday night about his starting XI after two Nations League games in which he rotated heavily, as did Zinédine Zidane.

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Sandro Tonali, a midfield mainstay, and Pio Esposito, 21, could also be handed starts. Esposito caught the eye in Türkiye in a 4-1 result on Monday.

The pair could be involved for a third time in a week if selected.

Moise Kean is in line to feature up front, though recent fitness issues mean he will undergo a final test on Friday morning.

Source: L'Équipe

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”

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