Mancini: Leoni, Ahanor and Palma will be great defenders

Roberto Mancini admitted that Italy no longer has the world's best defensive group, as it once did. Even so, he spoke optimistically about the young defenders. In an interview with Rai, he discussed his squad selections and the challenges his side will face before Thursday evening's Nations League match.

Mancini said that although Italy lack players like Maldini, Baresi or Cannavaro, there are strong young defenders coming through the system. He highlighted Liverpool's Giovanni Leoni. Leoni suffered a serious knee injury in his first match for Liverpool more than a year ago and is still recovering.

Crystal Palace's Honest Ahanor and Parma's Matteo Palma were called up to the national squad in November. However, neither made the match-day squad for the France game. Mancini said that Bastoni and Scalvini, although still young, have been playing for a long time and that there are three or four good options behind them. In his view, Palma, Leoni and Ahanor will each become a great defender.

The two teams drew 1-1 in Paris at the start of October. They now meet again in just over a month.