Just one change as Gattuso drops four Italy players for Israel game

Originally posted on Football Italia | By Lorenzo Bettoni | Last updated Sep 8, 2025 5:05 AM ET

Daniel Maldini replaces Mattia Zaccagni in the Italy squad to face Israel, so the Lazio winger will go to the stands alongside Marco Carnesecchi, Giovanni Leoni and Giovanni Fabbian.

Gattuso has named his final squad list for Italy’s World Cup qualifying fixture against Israel tonight, Monday, September 8, 2025.

Gattuso drops four players for Israel-Italy

As reported by TMW, Zaccagni, Carnesecchi, Leoni, and Fabbian won’t even go on the bench tonight.

Zaccagni started the previous game against Estonia, but has now been replaced by Maldini, who was sent to the stands on Friday.

The other three players, Leoni, Carnesecchi and Fabbian, had already been dropped for last week’s game against Estonia.

Gattuso likely to change Italy system v. Israel

Italy secured a 5-0 win on Gattuso’s debut last week, but are going into another must-win game tonight as the three points would allow the Azzurri to catch Israel in second place in Group I.

Gattuso is expected to pick a 4-3-3 system tonight , with either Giacomo Raspadori or Moise Kean starting as a left winger.

This article first appeared on Football Italia and was syndicated with permission.

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