Italy vs Northern Ireland: Line-ups confirmed for World Cup play-off
Catch up with all the team news ahead of Italy vs Northern Ireland
Italy’s quest to qualify for the World Cup begins tonight in their semi-final play-off against Northern Ireland.
Gennaro Gattuso’s men are at risk of missing their third major tournament in a row, a potential disaster for the Azzuri.
But for Ireland, it is an opportunity to capitalise on the Italian’s fragility when it comes to the competition.
The winner will face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina next week.
Catch up with all the team news ahead of the clash in Bergamo.
Table of Contents
Italy team news
Italy starting XI: Donnarumma, Mancini, Bastoni, Calafiori, Politano, Tonali, Locatelli, Barella, Di Marco, Retegui, Keane
Italy substitutes: Carnesecchi, Meret, Palestra, Spinazzola, Buongiorno, Raspadori, Pisilli, Esposito, Cristante, Frattesi, Gatti, Scalvini
Northern Ireland team news
Northern Ireland starting XI: Charles, Hume, McNair, McConville, Devlin, Charles, Galbraith, Devenny, Spencer, Price, Donley
Northern Ireland substitutes: Peacock-Farrell, Hazard, Toal, Atcheson, Saville, Marshall, Kelly, Smyth, Lyons, Reid, Magennis, Brown
Where to watch Italy v Northern Ireland: TV and online streams
Italy versus Northern Ireland kicks off tomorrow night at 7.45pm. You can watch it in the UK on BBC Two and BBC NI.
It can be streamed via the BBC iPlayer.
Stats for Italy v Northern Ireland
- Northern Ireland’s last three competitive away wins were against Lithuania, San Marino and Luxembourg
- Northern Ireland have lost all seven previous visits to Italy by an aggregate score of 16-2
- Northern Ireland haven’t beaten Italy since 1958
- Italy are hoping to avoid becoming the first former winners to miss out on three successive World Cups