Italy give Marco Verratti, Andrea Bertolacci and Salvatore Sirigu rare starts in tonight’s European qualifier in Bulgaria.

It kicks off at 19.45 GMT in Sofia, click here to follow our LIVEBLOG.

This tie has been overshadowed by the controversy over Claudio Marchisio’s injury, which saw some unhinged supporters on social media even send death threats to Coach Antonio Conte.

Italy give Marco Verratti, Andrea Bertolacci and Salvatore Sirigu rare starts in tonight’s European qualifier in Bulgaria.

It kicks off at 19.45 GMT in Sofia, click here to follow our LIVEBLOG.

This tie has been overshadowed by the controversy over Claudio Marchisio’s injury, which saw some unhinged supporters on social media even send death threats to Coach Antonio Conte.

The tactician also walked out of an interview when repeatedly asked about Marchisio, while FIGC President Carlo Tavecchio confirmed Conte felt “vilified.”

There are even reports the Coach would walk out on his Azzurri job after this game and Tuesday’s friendly against England, which will be at the Juventus Stadium in Turin.

Gigi Buffon pulled out just two hours before kick-off after coming down with flu symptoms, so PSG goalkeeper Sirigu starts instead.

Marchisio is another injury absentee, including Andrea Pirlo, Manuel Pasqual, Alessandro Florenzi, Mattia Perin and Mattia De Sciglio.

It gives Paris Saint-Germain talent Verratti a rare chance to take the midfield reins, joined by Antonio Candreva and Genoa’s Andrea Bertolacci.

Luca Antonelli steps in for Pasqual on the left, while there’s an all-Juventus defence in this 3-5-2 system.

Sassuolo’s Simone Zaza again partners Borussia Dortmund striker Ciro Immobile.

On the bench hoping for their debuts are Mirko Valdifiori, Franco Vazquez and Eder.

Bulgaria play their first competitive game under new Coach Ivaylo Petev and have a tricky history against the Azzurri, managing just two draws in their last six meetings.

Georgi Milanov and Georgi Iliev miss out for the Bulgarians, but they surprisingly drop Ternana striker Valeri Bojinov and start goalkeeper Mihaylov.

Previous boss Luboslav Penev was dismissed after a disappointing 1-1 draw with Malta in qualifying, leaving them with just four points from four games in Group H.

Bulgaria: Mihaylov; Manolev, Bodurov, A Aleksandrov, Minev; Dyakov, Gadzhev; Milanov, Popov, M. Alexandrov; Micanski

Bulgaria bench: Mitrev, Stoyanov, Bandalovski, Stoychev, Terziev, Slavchev, Malinov, Chochev, R Vasilev, V Vasilev, Tonev, Bozhinov

Italy: Sirigu; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Darmian, Candreva, Verratti, Bertolacci, Antonelli; Zaza, Immobile

Italy bench: Marchetti, Ranocchia, Moretti, Valdifiori, Parolo, Cerci, Soriano, Gabbiadini, Pellè, Vazquez, Eder

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