Italy probable starting XI for World Cup play-off with Northern Ireland | OneFootball

After the first day of training and with quite a few injuries still to be dealt with, the first signs are emerging of a possible Italy starting XI against Northern Ireland.

The World Cup play-off semi-final kicks off at the New Balance Arena in Bergamo on Thursday at 19.45 GMT (20.45 CET).

Whoever wins will then face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in the final on Tuesday March 31.

Italy side still taking shape in Gattuso’s mind

BERGAMO – SEPTEMBER 05: Coach Gennaro Gattuso of Italy gesture during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

Gennaro Gattuso has already been forced to make some changes to his squad due to injuries, sending Federico Chiesa back home to Liverpool and calling in Bologna’s Nicolò Cambiaghi.

There are others who are not fully fit and still in doubt, such as Alessandro Bastoni, Riccardo Calafiori, Sandro Tonali and Gianluca Mancini.

MILAN – MARCH 20: Alessandro Bastoni of Italy in action during the UEFA Nations League quarterfinal leg one match between Italy and Germany at Stadio San Siro on March 20, 2025 in Milan (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

It is widely reported Gattuso will set Italy out in a 3-5-2 formation, with Manchester City’s Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal and wearing the captain’s armband.

If Bastoni or Arsenal’s Calafiori cannot make it, then Federico Gatti is more likely to step in.

For the midfield, Davide Frattesi is the first alternative to Tonali, with Matteo Politano expected to start even after he was spotted with a large bandage on his shin today.

FLORENCE – SEPTEMBER 05: Gianluigi Donnarumma and Sandro Tonali of Italy arrive during an Italy Training Session at Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano on September 05, 2023 in Florence (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

Manuel Locatelli, Nicolò Barella and Federico Dimarco are all confident of a place in the XI.

Gianluca Scamacca is definitely not fit for the semi-final, so Moise Kean and Mateo Retegui should retain their places upfront.

The splendid recent form of Inter striker Francesco Pio Esposito is not yet enough to get him into the starting XI.

Italy (3-5-2): Donnarumma; Calafiori, Mancini, Bastoni; Politano, Locatelli, Tonali, Barella, Dimarco; Kean, Retegui