Alessandro Del Piero feels substitutes could be key for Italy against England tonight.
Alessandro Del Piero feels substitutes could be key for Italy against England tonight.
The Azzurri are without Gigi Buffon and Mattia De Sciglio, while Mario Balotelli is the only striker in the starting XI.
“I don’t know who can be the decisive player this evening, but there are lads on the bench who can change the game,” Del Piero told Sky Sport Italia.
“When Cesare Prandelli says ‘we won’t end the way we started,’ I believe he was referring to this aspect. He has a lot of faith in his reserves and they can make the difference.”
It is a 4-1-4-1 formation with dual playmakers Marco Verratti and Andrea Pirlo, plus Claudio Marchisio and Antonio Candreva pushing forward.
“I am curious to see how the team will play in this style, as we don’t want Balotelli to be left too isolated upfront.”
Among the options on the bench are Torino striker Ciro Immobile – top scorer in Serie A this season – Lorenzo Insigne of Napoli and Toro's Alessio Cerci.
England: Hart; Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines; Gerrard, Henderson; Rooney, Sterling, Welbeck; Sturridge
Italy: Sirigu; Darmian, Barzagli, Paletta, Chiellini; De Rossi; Candreva, Pirlo, Verratti, Marchisio; Balotelli