Report: France will change Italy's defence in the Nations League

L'Equipe reports that France will reshuffle its defence in the Nations League match against Italy and put Liverpool's Ibrahim Konaté in the starting line-up.

It starts at 7:45 p.m. British time (6:45 p.m. GMT) at the Parc des Princes in Paris.

This is the opening game of the Nations League group, which also includes Belgium and Israel.

Didier Deschamps plans to make some changes to the team that reached the semi-finals of EURO 2024, many of which are forced by Olivier Giroud's retirement from the national team and injuries to Wesley Fofana, Aurelien Tchaouameni and Ferland Mendy.

According to L'Equipe, the defence will be reshuffled again tonight, with Liverpool's Konaté playing in the middle alongside Arsenal's William Saliba.

It was originally assumed that Dayot Upamecano would be awarded the contract instead.

If Konaté is actually in the starting line-up, it will be his 17th.^th International match for the French senior national team, the first since the friendly match against Canada in June.

He was in the squad for EURO 2024, but did not play a single minute.

The French starting eleven is expected to include three Milan players: Mike Maignan, Theo Hernandez and Youssouf Fofana.

Probable lineups France vs. Italy

France (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Clauss, Konate, Saliba, Theo Hernandez; Y Fofana, Kanté; Kolo Muani, Olise, Barcola; Mbappe

Italy (3-5-2): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori; Bellanova, Frattesi, Ricci, Tonali, Dimarco; Retegui, Raspadori

Reference: Schärer (SUI)