Italy could deploy a four-man defence for tonight’s match with Albania after Antonio Conte experimented with a 4-4-2 in training.
Italy could deploy a four-man defence for tonight’s match with Albania after Antonio Conte experimented with a 4-4-2 in training.
The Italian CT is well known for his favoured 3-5-2 formation, which former Milan great Zvonimir Boban described as the “best ever” last week.
However, Italy struggled during their last game with Croatia, and tonight’s friendly could be used to experiment with a different formation.
The Corriere dello Sport reports that the Azzurri spent two training sessions yesterday working on a 4-4-2 system, with Sportmediaset also believing that a change of system will be employed.
All the players who took the field against Croatia have returned to their respective clubs, so it will be an unfamiliar Azzurri line-up at the Marassi.
Mattia Perin is expected to start in goal in familiar surroundings, with the Genoa goalkeeper set to win his first official cap after appearing in a friendly against club side Fluminense before the 2014 World Cup.
In defence Leonardo Bonucci is expected to return after serving a suspension, with Emiliano Moretti, Luca Antonelli and Lorenzo De Silvestri completing the back four.
In midfield Atletico Madrid’s Alessio Cerci is expected to he handed a starting shirt, with Mattia Destro and Sebastian Giovinco expected to make up the attack.
Calcionews24 expects Conte to give the likes of Daniele Rugani, Stefano Okaka and Francesco Acerbi debuts from the bench.
Probable Italy line-up to face Albania: Perin; De Silvestri, Bonucci, Moretti, Antonelli; Cerci, Parolo, Sturaro, Bonaventura; Giovinco, Destro