Italy v Azerbaijan – Preview: Euro 2016 road continues for Conte’s men

Date: 9th October 2014 at 12:09pm
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Norway v Italy - Zaza celebratesItaly will go into Friday night’s Euro 2016 qualification Group H fixture against Azerbaijan at Stadio Renza Barbera, Palermo as strong favourites as the Azzurri seek to build on their promising start under new head coach Antonio Conte.

Conte boldly decided to omit Mario Balotelli from his squad for the games against Azerbaijan and Croatia, replacing him with Southampton’s Graziano Pelle who will be hoping to make his international debut and following Giacomo Bonaventura’s injury he has called on the fit again Andrea Pirlo.

Pirlo seems likely to make a return to the starting XI having started Juventus’ feisty win against Roma, while Marco Veratti remains a doubt due to his ankle injury but remains with squad.

Empoli youngster Daniele Rugani left the squad to join up with the Italy U-21 side as they lost Alessio Romagnoli to injury ahead of their crucial 2015 European U-21 Championship play-off matches against Slovakia.

The Azzurri brushed aside Norway in Oslo in their opening group H fixture and sit at the top of the table after the first round of fixtures and they will be hoping for their inexperienced strike force to fire once again. Conte is likely to show faith in the duo of Ciro Immobile and Simone Zaza despite the latter’s lack of goals for Sassuolo in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan, under the tutelage of former Germany head coach Berti Vogts, are likely to call upon the services of several members of the Qarabag side that lost to Inter in the Europa League last week and will try to build on their narrow 2-1 defeat against Bulgaria.

The Azerbaijan side are currently ranked 95th in the FIFA world rankings and find themselves in a poor run of form with just three wins from their last 15 games.

Probable lineups:

Italy (3-5-2) Buffon; Ranocchia, Bonucci, Chiellini; De Sciglio; De Rossi, Candreva, Marchisio, Pirlo; Immobile, Zaza

Azerbaijan (4-5-1) Agayev; Shukurov, Sadigov, B Huseynov, Budak; Qarayev, Dadashov, J Husyenov, Amirqulyiev, Nadirov; Aliyev

Prediction: 3-0

 

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