Italy revolutionise their injury-hit side against Edinson Cavani’s Uruguay for the Confederations Cup third-place play-off.

A place on the tournament podium will be assigned at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador de Bahia at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT, 13.00 local time).

Italy revolutionise their injury-hit side against Edinson Cavani’s Uruguay for the Confederations Cup third-place play-off.

A place on the tournament podium will be assigned at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador de Bahia at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT, 13.00 local time).

The Azzurri are exhausted after going through 120 minutes and a penalty shoot-out against Spain on Thursday night.

Mario Balotelli and Ignazio Abate already missed the semi-final, while Andrea Pirlo, Andrea Barzagli, Claudio Marchisio and Emanuele Giaccherini have been ruled out by injury.

Daniele De Rossi, Alberto Gilardino and Giorgio Chiellini were also carrying knocks in training yesterday, but are all in the starting XI.

This gives Italy the chance to start with players such as Mattia De Sciglio, Stephan El Shaarawy and Alessandro Diamanti who have barely featured so far in the tournament.

The 3-4-2-1 system used against Spain is shelved for a return to the four-man defence.

Uruguay were beaten by Brazil in their semi-final on Wednesday and have a full squad to choose from, as Andres Scotti returns from suspension.

There are several Serie A players in the line-up, including Napoli hitman Edinson Cavani, Lazio’s Alvaro Gonzalez, Inter midfielder Walter Gargano, Palermo’s Arevalo Rios and Juventus full-back Martin Caceres.

Cavani completes a star trident attack with Luis Suarez and former Inter striker Diego Forlan.

Uruguay: Muslera; Caceres, Godin, Lugano, Maxi Pereira; Cristian Rodriguez, Gargano, Arevalo Rios; Forlan; Suarez, Cavani

Italy: Buffon; Maggio, Chiellini, Astori, De Sciglio; Candreva, De Rossi, Montolivo; Diamanti; El Shaarawy, Gilardino

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