Italy National Football Team Formation

Starting Lineup

1- G. Donnarumma
2- Di Lorenzo
23- A. Bastoni
5- R. Calafiori
3- F. Dimarco
14- F. Chiesa
8- Jorginho
16- B. Cristante
18- N. Barella
9- G. Scamacca
10- L. Pellegrini

Italy focuses on a high press and rapid transitions using a 3-4-3 formation. This lineup is built to squeeze the pitch and win the ball back high up the pitch to catch the opposition out of position. The team looks to play with high intensity to force errors in the opponent's build up phase.

Gianluigi Donnarumma acts as the last line of defense in goal. The defensive unit operates with a back three, where Alessandro Bastoni plays as the central defender to cover the space behind his partners. Federico Bastoni is known for his passing range and ability to play out from the back. Riccardo Calafiori acts as the left centre-back and Di Lorenzo plays as the right centre-back. These three defenders maintain a high line to keep the team compact and reduce the space for the opposition to play through the lines.

A central midfield pairing of Jorginho and Bryan Cristante provides the engine room for Italy. Jorginho sits deeper to protect the back three and recycles possession with his precise short passing. Cristante works alongside him to win the second ball and drive the ball forward. Federico Dimarco and Federico Chiesa occupy the wide midfield roles. Dimarco and Chiesa are tasked to push up and provide width, often acting as wing backs when the team moves into a defensive mid-block. This midfield unit connects the defensive line to the attacking trio by moving the ball quickly through the thirds.

The attacking front line features three players tasked with stretching the defense. Nicolo Barella plays on the left and Lorenzo Pellegrini operates on the right, both acting as inverted wingers who cut inside to create chances. Giacomo Scamacca leads the line as a pressing centre-forward, using his physical presence to hold up the ball and fight for headers. This trio works in combination to create runs in behind and isolate defenders in one on one situations. The movement of Barella and Pellegrini into the half spaces allows Scamacca to find space in the box.

One major strength of this Italy formation is the ability to press high in coordinated waves, making it difficult for opponents to find time on the ball. The presence of Jorginho allows the team to maintain control of the tempo, while the width provided by Dimarco and Chiesa creates wide overloads. This setup also offers great speed of transition when the ball is won in the middle third.

This formation is built for a high tempo game that relies on physical intensity and quick ball movement. It is best suited for matches against teams that play a high line and can be caught on the break.