Giampiero Ventura admits he’d “change a few things” against Spain and will start Marco Verratti in Italy’s World Cup qualifier with Macedonia.
It kicks off in Skopje on Sunday at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT) and follows on from Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Spain.
“If I was to go back in time to before that match, I’d certainly change a few things,” confessed the Coach in his Press conference.
Giampiero Ventura admits he’d “change a few things” against Spain and will start Marco Verratti in Italy’s World Cup qualifier with Macedonia.
It kicks off in Skopje on Sunday at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT) and follows on from Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Spain.
“If I was to go back in time to before that match, I’d certainly change a few things,” confessed the Coach in his Press conference.
“Having said that, despite everything we only allowed two shots on target. Spain also should’ve had two players sent off.
“Once we had scored the equaliser for 1-1, if there was a team that looked likely to go on and win, it was Italy. However, we have fresh in the memory how much we struggled under pressure against Spain. That cannot be Italy. We must build something important.
“Macedonia are going to be a tough nut to crack. They’ve lost two games so far, but were also unlucky. It will be an important and I feel also a decisive match for us in this qualifying campaign.”
There will be numerous changes to the side starting tomorrow evening, some of them forced, as Riccardo Montolivo and Giorgio Chiellini are injured with Graziano Pellè frozen out.
“Verratti is a treasure of Italian football. If there are no nasty surprises overnight, then he will play tomorrow. He wasn’t in the right condition to play against Spain.
“I am very satisfied with Daniele De Rossi’s performance with Spain and I don’t regret picking him. Could they play together? They are very different figures, but never say never.
“The objective is for us to grow and improve game by game, not just in terms of courage, but in all aspects.
“As for Alessio Romagnoli, people always say that we ought to launch the careers of young players, but the same people then warn it’s risky when we do pick them.
“There is an infinite choice of young players who are or will be part of this Nazionale. It’s a project that cannot be realised in the space of three days. This is going to take some time.”
Ventura was asked about his tactics, expected to remain 3-5-2, and whether Italy will man-mark or go zonal.
“I won’t reveal that.”
Italy (probable): Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Romagnoli; Candreva, Parolo, Verratti, Bonaventura, De Sciglio; Belotti, Immobile