Lorenzo Insigne, Marco Verratti and Fabio Borini are in the starting line-up as Italy take on England in the Under-21 European Championship.
Their tournament kicks off at 19.30 UK time in Tel Aviv. They are in Group A along with Norway and hosts Israel, who drew 2-2 earlier this evening.
Lorenzo Insigne, Marco Verratti and Fabio Borini are in the starting line-up as Italy take on England in the Under-21 European Championship.
Their tournament kicks off at 19.30 UK time in Tel Aviv. They are in Group A along with Norway and hosts Israel, who drew 2-2 earlier this evening.
There were concerns over Napoli starlet Insigne when he sprained his ankle in training, but he has recovered to be in the starting XI.
PSG talent Verratti has dropped back down to the Under-21 side from the senior Italy squad just for this tournament and he’ll be the key figure in midfield.
Riccardo Saponara and Vasco Regini only joined their teammates in Israel on Monday after they were given time off to take part in the Serie B promotion play-offs with Empoli.
England are on a run of nine consecutive victories without conceding a goal under manager Stuart Pearce.
However, Tottenham left-back Danny Rose and Blackpool winger Tom Ince are suspended after a brawl that followed their play-off win in Serbia in October 2012.
Manchester United man Wilfried Zaha is carrying an ankle injury, so is on the bench.
The last time these sides met was in a friendly in February 2011, as Italy ran out 1-0 winners thanks to a Federico Macheda penalty. In all competition they’ve earned four wins each and three stalemates.
England U21: Butland; Clyne, Dawson, Caulker, Robinson; Henderson, Lowe; Redmond, Shelvey, Sordell; Wickham
England bench: Rudd, Steele, Smith, Wisdom, Lees, Chalobah, McEachran, Zaha, Lansbury, Delfouneso
Italy U21: Bardi; Donati, Bianchetti, Caldirola, Biraghi; Florenzi, Marrone, Verratti, Insigne; Borini, Immobile
Italy bench: Colombi, Leali, Capuano, Regini, Bertolacci, Rossi, Crimi, Gabbiadini, Destro, Sansone, Paloschi, Saponara