Italy have Sebastian Giovinco and Pablo Daniel Osvaldo in tonight’s World Cup qualifier in Armenia, as Mario Balotelli is only fit for the bench.

The Azzurri have stuttered so far in Group B, earning a 2-2 draw in Bulgaria and 2-0 home victory over Malta.

Italy have Sebastian Giovinco and Pablo Daniel Osvaldo in tonight’s World Cup qualifier in Armenia, as Mario Balotelli is only fit for the bench.

The Azzurri have stuttered so far in Group B, earning a 2-2 draw in Bulgaria and 2-0 home victory over Malta.

This evening’s game kicks off in Yerevan at 18.00 UK time, 21.00 local.

Angelo Ogbonna pulled out of the squad with an injury, but Giorgio Chiellini is dropped in favour of the returning Domenico Criscito.

The Zenit St Petersburg defender has been ignored since being dropped from the Euro 2012 squad due to the betting investigation, which cleared him of any wrongdoing.

Balotelli was in doubt after coming down with a cold and high temperature overnight, so is only considered fit for the bench.

Instead, Juventus” data-scaytid=”16″>Juventus talent Giovinco steps into the breach alongside Roma striker Osvaldo, supported by Riccardo Montolivo in a trequartista role.

Armenia: Berezovski; Aleksanyan, Mkoyan, Arzumanyan, A Edigaryan; Ozbiliz, Mkrtchyan, A Edigaryan, Manoyan; Mkhitaryan, Movsisyan

Italy: Buffon; Maggio, Barzagli, Bonucci, Criscito; De Rossi, Pirlo, Marchisio; Montolivo; Osvaldo, Giovinco

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Tickets Kit Collector