Italy National Football Team Formation

Starting Lineup

BASTONI · BARELLA · TONALI · KEAN · BUONGIORNO · DI MARCO · RETEGUI · DONNARUMMA · FRATTESI · SCALVINI · BELLANOVA

Italy plays with a clear intent to win the ball back high up the pitch and strike quickly. The team utilizes a 3-5-2 formation that focuses on verticality and controlling the central channels. This lineup is designed to squeeze the space in the middle while using wide players to stretch the defence.

DONNARUMMA stays between the posts to command his area and collect any balls delivered into the box. The back three operates as a cohesive unit where BUONGIORNO sits central to hold the line and win headers. SCALVINI and BASTONI play as the wide centre-backs, with BASTONI able to carry the ball forward from the left. They defend zonally to keep the unit compact and can step up to set the offside trap when the team pushes high.

The midfield is a five man group containing a double pivot and an attacking ten behind the striker. BARELLA and TONALI act as a double pivot to shield the defence and win the second ball. BARELLA is known for his ability to drive forward with the ball, while TONALI works to recycle possession and find the feet of the strikers. BELLANOVA and DI MARCO operate as attacking wing backs to provide width, while FRATTESI plays as an attacking ten to connect the lines and arrive late into the box.

In the final third, Italy employs two forwards in a partnership. RETEGUI acts as a pressing centre-forward to harass the opposition back line, allowing KEAN to look for runs in behind. The attacking movement relies on the width provided by DI MARCO and BELLANOVA, who look to get to the byline and whip it in. This creates opportunities for the strikers to attack the near post or find space in the box through combination play.

One major advantage of this formation is the numerical superiority in midfield when the wing backs push high. Italy can also use the speed of transition to catch opponents out of position after a turnover. The ability to press in pairs from the front creates a lot of pressure on the opposing goalkeeper and defenders.

This 3-5-2 formation offers a balance of defensive solidity and attacking width. It is most effective against teams that play a narrow formation and struggle to deal with wide overloads.