Italy National Football Team Formation

Starting Lineup

Dimarco · Savona · Bastoni · Romagnoli · Tonali · Barella · Retegui · Zaniolo · Chiesa · Raspadori · Donnarumma

Italy uses a high risk, high reward 2-5-3 formation. This lineup is built to dominate possession and press heavily from the front. The team wants to control the tempo and pin the opposition in their own half through constant pressure to force mistakes.

Donnarumma guards the goal and provides a massive presence in the box with his shot stopping. The defensive unit consists of a very high back two made of Bastoni and Romagnoli. Bastoni serves as a ball playing defender to play out from the back, while Romagnoli holds the line. Because there are only two central defenders, they must step up to squeeze the space and rely on the midfielders to cover any runs in behind.

The midfield acts as the engine of the Italy lineup. Savona and Dimarco form a deep pivot to protect the two defenders and recycle possession. Tonali and Barella operate in the half spaces to drive forward with the ball, with Barella using his relentless work rate to win the second ball. Zaniolo plays as an attacking ten, finding pockets of space to play through the lines and link the midfield to the front three.

In the final third, the team uses three attackers to stretch the defence. Chiesa and Raspadori play as wide attackers who cut inside to create goal scoring chances. Retegui acts as a pressing centre-forward to lead the hunt for the ball and pin the last defender. The movement of Chiesa and Raspadori creates space for the midfielders to arrive late into the box, while Retegui works to hold up the ball or run into channels.

The formation offers immense numerical superiority in the middle of the pitch. By crowding the center, the team can intercept passes and win it back high up the pitch. The ability to create wide overloads with the combination of wide midfielders and attackers allows Italy to pull wide and stretch the defence to create openings.

This 2-5-3 formation is designed for teams that want to impose their will through high pressing. It is best suited for matches where the opponent sits deep and the team needs to break lines through central combinations.