Andrea Pirlo could start Italy’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Azerbaijan on Friday with Simone Zaza and Ciro Immobile.
Coach Antonio Conte tested out his 3-5-2 line-up in training today at the Coverciano training camp.
Marco Verratti did not take part due to an ankle problem and Giacomo Bonaventura was sent home injured, so Pirlo could well start in midfield.
Andrea Pirlo could start Italy’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Azerbaijan on Friday with Simone Zaza and Ciro Immobile.
Coach Antonio Conte tested out his 3-5-2 line-up in training today at the Coverciano training camp.
Marco Verratti did not take part due to an ankle problem and Giacomo Bonaventura was sent home injured, so Pirlo could well start in midfield.
The Juventus veteran was fielded in the XI with Claudio Marchisio and Alessandro Florenzi, while Antonio Candreva and Manuel Pasqual took the wide roles.
In defence Andrea Ranocchia joined Juve duo Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini.
The strike pairing of Immobile and Zaza was maintained from Conte’s first two games against Holland and Norway.
Towards the end of the training session, which saw the Italy players take on dummies placed in a 4-4-2 formation, Alberto Aquilani took over from Florenzi and Thiago Motta replaced Pirlo.
It would be quite a turnaround if Pirlo were to start this match, as he had announced his international retirement after the World Cup.
He changed his mind, made his comeback from injury in Juve’s 3-2 win over Roma on Sunday and was only called up by the Azzurri as a replacement for Bonaventura.
Italy (probable): Buffon; Ranocchia, Bonucci, Chiellini; Candreva, Marchisio, Pirlo, Florenzi, Pasqual; Immobile, Zaza