5 nations and their potential 2018 World Cup starting lineups

#2 Italy

Italy World Cup 2018 — Marco Verratti and Claudio Marchisio could anchor Italy’s midfield

The 2006 World Cup victors have somewhat decelerated in recent years and undergo perhaps the biggest makeover of any other side on this list. Revitalised with youth, I expect criticisms from the old guard regarding selection here, but if Gli Azzurri starting working with a side as such, they can expect a very promising and fruitful future.

Unless Gianluigi Buffon defies all the odds to make it to a record sixth World Cup finals (he already holds the record with five), it is expected Sirigu will win the battle for the number one spot ahead of Mattia Perin, beating the Genoa shot-stopper on experience.

The back three is mouth-watering, with a then 32-year-old Giorgio Chiellini anchoring down the defence alongside his newly signed Juve teammate Daniele Rugani. Rugani has been tipped as Italy’s future leader from the back and his promising stint at Empoli last season highlighted why many are saying he will emulate the greats of the nation’s defence in years to come.

Then there is Roma centre-half Alessio Romagnoli, the boy dubbed as the next ‘Alessandro Nesta’ and a very composed youngster, who has been deployed in positions across the entire back-line under various gaffers and looks set to throw his name into the Italian mixing bowl.

While at the back we see an old head sandwiched between two youthful, blockbuster candidates, the midfield offers a similar balance. The team of 2018 will be built around the heir to Andrea Pirlo’s throne, Marco Verratti, whose expert vision and influence on the ball will be the heartbeat of Italy’s future play. I expect them to change their style to be quick and play on the counter-attack with fellow midfielder and national veteran Marchisio looking to utilise the pace of wing-backs Darmian and Milan revelation De Sciglio.

Lorenzo Insigne has ignited Napoli’s climb up the Serie A ladder in recent seasons and will play just behind Destro and Berardi; two forwards capturing the imagination of Italy’s top flight and believed to be two of Europe’s best forward men in the near future.