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CONFIRMED LINEUP:
Italy (4-3-3):
Donnarumma | Criscito, Romagnoli, Caldara, Lazzari | Bonaventura, Jorginho, Cristante | Chiesa, Immobile (c), Zaza
By the week’s end, proper football, Sarri-ball will be back, and there will be much rejoicing. Until then, we get to watch the man made for that system, Jorginho squirm around like a fish out of water for the Azzurri.
Italy head coach Roberto Mancini knows that Jorginho has tremendous quality on the ball, but he alone cannot do the job. His teammates didn’t really help him out in the 1-1 draw against Poland; will they do a better job against Portugal today, in yet another Nations League encounter?
The Italian media have thrown their support behind the Chelsea man as well.
#Italia, non sparate sul regista: #Jorginho è indispensabile, ma bisogna sostenerlo https://t.co/2Qg5hVhmCt #nazionale pic.twitter.com/7xsvHlfgHL
— LaGazzettadelloSport (@Gazzetta_it) September 10, 2018
On a side note, are these Nations League fixtures actually interesting for anyone? There may be increased and more serious coverage of them by the media at large, but it doesn’t seem like the fans or anyone else really cares all that much more. But maybe I’m projecting.
In any case, here’s how to watch today’s marquee matchup.
PORTUGAL vs. ITALY (Nations League A, Group 3)
Who: Davide Zappacosta (13 caps), Jorginho (9), Emerson (0)
When: Monday, September 10, 2018, 19:45 BST; 2:45pm EDT
Where: Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal
Referee: William Collum (Scotland)
On TV: Sky Sports Football (UK); Univision Deportes (USA); elsewhere
Online: Sky Go (UK); ESPN+ (USA)