Italy expected to be unchanged for huge Bosnia tie | OneFootball

Italy take on Bosnia in the huge FIFA World Cup playoff final in a game that could prove to be pivotal in the country’s recent footballing history.

The Azzurri stand a chance of playing the first World Cup since 2014 and thereby potentially play in the first World Cup knockout stage tie since 2006. A loss would prove disastrous and it would mean that Italy can be the first winner of the competition to have missed out on qualification for three editions of the World Cup.

Sky Italia – via FCInterNews, report that Rino Gattuso is not going to take any risks for the tie tomorrow. He wants to keep the starting line-up the same as it was against Northern Ireland.

This means that Francesco Pio Esposito, who came off the bench, will be taking up the same spot. Matteo Retegui didn’t impress but he should be starting too.

Importantly, Marco Palestra will also not make his first start for the Azzurri after making a real impression at Cagliari. He will have to be satisfied with coming off the bench, with Matteo Politano set to start at wing-back and Federico Dimarco to feature at left wing-back.