The technical staff of Italy is surprised by the position of the Dutch national team. On Wednesday-evening, the Dutch Team will play in a 5-3-2 formation on paper, but Italy expects the line-up to resemble a 3-5-2 variant. The match in the Nations League group stage starts at 8.45 p.m. in Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia in Bergamo.

Prior to the match, Fausto Salsano, one of the assistants of national coach Roberto Mancini, acknowledges that Frank de Boer has caused surprise in Italy. “We had not seen it coming. Apparently the defeat in the previous game has taken a big hit”, Salsano refers to the mutual match in September, when Italy was 0-1 too strong in Amsterdam. “As far as we can tell, they have changed their system.”

5 ?? 3 ?? 2 ?? This is our line-up for the game against Italy ??#ITANED pic.twitter.com/FSC4TiZaBw

– @ (@Onsoranje) October 14, 2020

In the rear, De Boer plays with five men. Although the national coach was satisfied with the threat from Denzel Dumfries on the right flank, this time he opts for Hans Hateboer as right back. The rest of the defense consists of Stefan de Vrij, Virgil van Dijk, Nathan Aké and Daley Blind. “Based on the names of the players, we get the feeling that it will be more like a 3-5-2 system. But we can see that on the field,” added the assistant coach in conversation with RAI.

The Orange has to do without the suspended Marten de Roon. The midfielder of Atalanta hoped to be able to play for Orange in the stadium of his own club, but ran into a yellow card against Bosnia-Herzegovina and left the training camp prematurely. Due to the loss of De Roon, Donny van de Beek has a basic place in midfield. Georginio Wijnaldum and Frenkie de Jong will keep their place. The vanguard is formed by Luuk de Jong and Memphis Depay, who has returned from suspension.

Line-up Orange: Cillessen; Hateboer, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Aké, Blind; Van de Beek, F. De Jong and Wijnaldum; L. De Jong, Depay