Southampton striker Graziano Pelle is in line to make his Italy debut in tonight’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Malta.
The former Parma striker has scored four goals in his first six games in the English Premier League, and his impressive form led to a call-up to Antonio Conte’s Italy squad, ahead of Mario Balotelli.
Southampton striker Graziano Pelle is in line to make his Italy debut in tonight’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Malta.
The former Parma striker has scored four goals in his first six games in the English Premier League, and his impressive form led to a call-up to Antonio Conte’s Italy squad, ahead of Mario Balotelli.
Sky Sport believes that Pelle will be handed his Italy debut in Valletta, partnering Ciro Immobile up front in Conte’s favoured 3-5-2 system, with Simone Zaza dropsping to the bench.
Andrea Pirlo also looks set to miss the clash with Malta, being replaced by fit-again Paris Saint-Germain midfielder and heir apparent Marco Verratti.
Meanwhile, both Sky and the Gazzetta dello Sport report that Antonio Candreva and Manuel Pasqual will replace Mattia De Sciglio and Matteo Darmian in the wing-back positions.
Alessandro Florenzi and Claudio Marchisio look to have done enough to retain their midfield places, while a back-line featuring Andrea Ranocchia, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini will line up in front of Gianluigi Buffon, who is set to win his 145th cap for the Azzurri.
Talking in his pre-match Press conference yesterday evening, Antonio Conte was reticent to confirm his plans for tonight’s game.
Probable line-ups:
Malta (3-5-1-1): Hogg; Z. Muscat, Agius, Camilleri; Grioli, P. Fenech, R. Muscat, R. Fenech, Failla; Schembri; Mifsud.
Italia (3-5-2): Buffon; Ranocchia, Bonucci, Chiellini; Candreva, Florenzi, Verratti, Marchisio, Pasqual; Pellè, Immobile