Graziano Pellè gets his senior Italy debut with Marco Verratti also among changes in tonight’s Euro 2016 qualifier in Malta.
Graziano Pellè gets his senior Italy debut with Marco Verratti also among changes in tonight’s Euro 2016 qualifier in Malta.
It kicks off at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT) at the Ta’Qali National Stadium and the Azzurri are looking to maintain their 100 per cent record after a 2-0 victory in Norway and Friday’s 2-1 win over Azerbaijan.
Coach Antonio Conte makes several changes to the line-up that faced Azerbaijan last week, dropping misfiring Sassuolo striker Simone Zaza and giving Southampton hitman Pellè his senior Italy debut.
Verratti has shaken off an earlier injury and replaces Andrea Pirlo, while Manuel Pasqual and Antonio Candreva come in.
Inter defender Andrea Ranocchia is not even on the bench, so Matteo Darmian is re-routed to the back line.
Malta have lost both their Euro 2016 qualifiers so far, including Friday’s 3-0 result against Norway.
Their Coach is Italian Pietro Ghedin, who has worked in the Azzurri staff with the likes of Cesare Maldini, Dino Zoff and Giovanni Trapattoni.
This also means he was part of the Nazionale set-up when Conte was still a player.
Their biggest danger man is pacey centre-forward Michael Mifsud, but Steve Borg sits out a ban and Jonathan Caruana is sidelined.
Malta have lost all six competitive meetings with Italy.
This game will be officiated by Romanian referee Ovidiu Hategan.
Malta: Hogg; Z Muscat, Agius, R Camilleri; Mintoff, P Fenech, R Muscat, Briffa, Failla; Schembri; Mifsud
Malta bench: Haber, N Vella, Bezzina, Grioli, Baldacchino, R Scicluna, R Fenech, Kristensen, Cohen, S Pisani, T Vella, J Farrugia
Italy: Buffon; Darmian, Bonucci, Chiellini; Candreva, Florenzi, Verratti, Marchisio, Pasqual; Pellè, Immobile
Italy bench: Sirigu, Perin, Ogbonna, De Sciglio, Pirlo, Aquilani, Parolo, Poli, Destro, Giovinco, Zaza