Belgium face a potentially uncomfortable glimpse of the near future when they travel to face Italy in Rome in the UEFA Nations League.
The Azzurri put a disappointing European Championship defence behind them with a stunning 3-1 win over France in Paris in their League A, Group 2 opener last month.
Luciano Spalletti’s side followed Belgium’s lead by defeating group outsiders Israel but the Red Devils were well beaten in a 2-0 defeat to France.
That performance was lambasted by captain Kevin De Bruyne, who will not feature for the next two rounds of international fixtures as he seeks to build fitness following a groin injury.
Romelu Lukaku has similarly ruled himself out of international action until the end of the year, meaning head coach Domenico Tedesco needs younger members of his squad to step up in the absence of two giants of Belgian football.
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Italy vs. Belgium lineups, predicted starting 11, team news
Spalletti has continued his commitment to blooding youngsters in his squad, with AC Milan forward Daniel Maldini — the son of all-time Italy great Paolo Maldini — and Roma midfielder Niccolo Pisilli both hoping to make their full international debuts over the coming week.
Maldini’s inclusion bolsters a sparse forward line. Federico Chiesa, Moise Kean, and Gianluca Scamacca are all sidelined. The upshot is a probable front two of Mateo Retegui and Giacomo Raspadori.
Italy predicted XI (3-5-2, right to left): Donnarumma (GK) — Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori — Bellanova, Barella, Ricci, Tonali, Dimarco — Raspadori, Retegui
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Guglielmo Vicario, Michele Di Gregorio
Defenders: Federico Dimarco, Alessandro Buongiorno, Riccardo Calafiori Caleb Okoli, Matteo Gabbia, Raoul Bellanova, Andrea Cambiaso, Destiny Udogie, Alessandro Bastoni, Giovanni Di Lorenzo
Midfielders: Samuele Ricci, Sandro Tonali, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Davide Frattesi, Nicolo Fagioli, Niccolo Pisilli
Forwards: Mateo Retegui, Moise Kean, Giacomo Raspadori, Daniel Maldini
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Lois Openda is most likely to start at centre-forward in Lukaku’s absence. Tedesco has a decision to make at No. 10.
Atalanta’s Charles De Ketelaere is viewed by many as De Bruyne’s long-term heir for the national team, although Tedesco might plump for the recalled Leandro Trossard who has been in impressive early-season form for Arsenal.
Belgium predicted XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Casteels (GK) — Castagne, Faes, Debast, Theate — Onana, Tielemans — Lukebakio, Trossard, Doku — Openda
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Koen Casteels, Thomas Kaminski, Matz Sels
Defenders: Zeno Debast, Arthur Theatre, Wout Faes, Thomas Meunier, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Timothy Castagne
Midfielders: Amadou Onana, Youri Tielemans, Julien Duranville, Orel Mangala, Alexis Saelemaekers, Arthur Vermeeren
Forwards: Lois Openda, Jeremy Doku, Dodi Lukebakio, Charles De Ketelaere, Johan Bakayoko
What time does Italy vs. Belgium kick off?
This UEFA Nations League match takes place at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy and kicks off on Thursday, October 10 at 8:45 p.m. local time.
Here’s how that time translates across some of the major global territories:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| USA | Thurs, Oct. 10 | 2:45 p.m. ET |
| Canada | Thurs, Oct. 10 | 2:45 p.m. ET |
| Australia | Fri, Oct. 11 | 5:45 a.m. AEDT |
| UK | Thurs, Oct. 10 | 7:45 p.m. BST |
| India | Fri, Oct. 11 | 12:15 a.m. IST |
Italy vs. Belgium live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this UEFA Nations League match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
| Region | TV | Streaming |
| USA | Fox Sports 2 | Fubo, ViX, Foxsports.com |
| Canada | — | DAZN |
| UK | — | — |
| Australia | — | Optus Sport |
| India | — | Sony LIV, JioTV |