Three remaining Italy doubts as Kean tipped for starting opportunity vs. France

ROME, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 25: Moise Kean of Italy in action during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Italy and Belgium at Stadio Olimpico on September 25, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi/Getty Images)

There are three main doubts over Roberto Mancini’s personnel for Friday evening’s Nations League match away against France, but the latest updates in Italy suggest that Moise Kean is set to return to the starting line-up despite recent concerns over his fitness. 

Italy will take on France at the Stade de France at 19.45 BST in Zinedine Zidane’s first home match since replacing Didier Deschamps as head coach of Les Bleues. 

Italy are coming in off the back of a 2-0 defeat at home against Belgium last Friday and a 4-1 victory away against Turkey on Monday. France recorded 1-0 away victories over both Turkey and Belgium heading into Friday’s match against the Azzurri. 

Reports in Italy over the last week have made it clear that Michael Kayode and Riccardo Calafiori are set to start at full-back in Paris, with Alessandro Bastoni and either Giorgio Scalvini or Gianluca Mancini at centre-back. 

Nicolo Fagioli has been given the no.10 shirt for Friday’s game against France and is expected to start in midfield alongside Sandro Tonali. It remains to be seen whether it will be Nicolo Barella or Davide Frattesi joining them.

There have been several doubts regarding the attack over the last week, and pre-match reports have seen several different combinations of Kean, Pio and Sebastiano Esposito, Daniel Maldini and Antonio Vergara proposed. 

The one constant has been Sebastiano Esposito, who is still expected to start in the Italy attack, as he did against Turkey on Monday. 

His brother Pio has started the last two matches and there were questions as to whether he might be given a rest for what would be his third game in a week. There have also been concerns over Kean’s fitness, though, which led to some late suggestions that Gianluca Scamacca might feature. 

Despite the doubts regarding Kean and Pio Esposito, the latest reports from Sky Sport Italia on Friday afternoon predict that it will be a front three of Kean and Sebastiano Esposito behind either Pio Esposito or Scamacca at centre-forward. 

Sky’s predicted Italy line-up vs. France

(4-3-3): Donnarumma; Kayode, Scalvini/Mancini, Bastoni, Calafiori; Barella/Frattesi, Tonali, Fagioli; Kean, P.Esposito/Scamacca, S.Esposito.