UEFA Nations League Game TIme Thread: Italy vs. Poland

The UEFA Nations League is something we’ve never had to deal with during an international break before. It is, of course, new to everybody else, so we’re all sitting here in the same boat wondering what the hell this new creation amongst Europe’s football federation braintrust.

Tonight is Italy’s maiden voyage in the new Nations League. (For whatever reason, I want to keep calling it and then writing “The League of Nations” right now. Maybe I should go put on a mask like Bane or something instead.) Bologna is the location, with the Renato Dall’Ara hosting Italy’s first competitive match in months, with a certain Wojciech Szczesny and his Polish teammates rolling through.

I have no idea what to expect from the UEFA Nations League. I guess I don’t really know what to expect from Italy, either, knowing that we’re still relatively early into the Roberto Mancini Experience. We have seem him call up players that his predecessors wanted no business with — which in a way is an accomplishment in of itself. Mario Balotelli is back in the fold, young players are getting a chance on the national team level as Mancini now begins his quest and “YOUNG PLAYERS DESERVE A CHANCE!!” credo.

For the immediate future, we will now see if Italy can make progress and not actually look like the same Italy from the last year or two. That didn’t accomplish all that much. Unless you consider not making the World Cup as something grand and actually positive.

So, let’s go new Italy! And let’s see what the hell The League of Nations UEFA Nations League has to offer up as we see it grow into something out of nothing.

MATCH INFO

When: Friday, Sept. 7, 2018

Where: Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, Bologna, Italy

Official kickoff time: 8:45 p.m. local time in Italy and across Europe; 7:45 p.m. in the United Kingdom; 2:45 p.m. on the East Coast; 11:45 a.m. on the West Coast

STARTING LINEUPS

Italy starting XI (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Zappacosta, Bonucci, Chiellini, Biraghi; Pellegrini, Jorginho, Gagliardini; Bernardeschi, Balotelli, Insigne

Italy bench: Sirigu, Perin, Barella, Criscito, Romagnoli, Berardi, Bonaventura, Belotti, Caldara, Chiesa, Immobile, Benassi

Poland starting XI (4-5-1): Fabianski; Bereszynski, Glik, Bednarek, Reca; Blaszczykowski, Krychowiak, Klich, Kurzawa; Zielinski; Lewandowski

Poland bench: Szczesny, Skorupski, Pietrzak, Kedziora, Dzwigala, Milik, Linetty, Szymanski, Frankowski, Kadzior, Kaminski, Piatek

HOW TO WATCH

Television: ESPN2 (United States); Sky Sports Football (United Kingdom); RAI Uno (Italy)

Online/mobile: WatchESPN, Univision Deportes (United States); Sky GO Extra (United Kingdom); RAI Play (Italy)

Other live viewing options can be found here, and as always, you can also follow along with us live and all the stupid things we say on Twitter. If you haven’t already, join the community on Black & White & Read All Over, and join in the discussion below.

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