Italy take on Croatia in a must win Euro 2016 qualifier on Friday as the Azzurri sit second in Group H, two points behind their opponents.
Italy travel to the Stadio Poljud in Split on Friday night to face Croatia in their Group H clash, knowing that a win can take them top of the group as they look to qualify for next year’s European Championships in France.
The Azzurri are currently in second place with 11 points after a recent draw against Bulgaria with the Croatians topping the group on 13 points after winning all their games excluding a 1-1 draw against Italy in the reverse fixture last November.
Italy’s salvaged a draw in Sofia in an unconvincing performance which has been one of many since Antonio Conte took charge last summer, however the Azzurri are unbeaten in the eight games since he succeeded Cesare Prandelli after the World Cup in Brazil.
Croatia go into the match in excellent form themselves after they cruised to a 5-1 home win against Norway in their previous qualifier and followed it up with a 4-0 win against Gibraltar.
The home side boast an impressive record against Italy as they have never lost to the Azzurri in a competitive game with Italy’s only victory against their opponents coming in the first of eight overall meetings in a friendly in 1942.
Niko Kovac’s side will know that a victory can put them five points clear of Italy and send them well on their way to next summer’s tournament in France, but despite the home side’s strong competitive record Antonio Conte can be buoyed by the fact that Italy have not lost in 45 qualifying matches since a 3-1 defeat to France on the road to Euro 2008.
Conte will also be encouraged that the Croatians have a dismal record at the Stadio Poljud winning just one of their ten matches at the stadium in Split and they will also be without a rapturous home support after UEFA ordered the fixture to be played behind closed doors after repeated offences by the Balkan nation’s supporters.
Italy are without the injured Simone Zaza and Andrea Barzagli whilst Gianluigi Buffon and Marco Verratti are also doubtful.
It is believed Conte will start with a 4-3-3 formation spearheaded by Stephan El Shaarawy, Antonio Candreva and Graziano Pelle.
Croatia are without Luka Modric who is injured as well as the suspended Vedran Corluka.
Kovac is expected to partner Leicester City’s Andrej Kraneric in attack alongside Mario Mandzukic.
Form Guide: Croatia (W-W-W-D-W), Italy (W-W-W-D-D)
Expected Starting XIs
Croatia: Subasic, Srna, Lovren, Schildenfeld, Vrsaljko, Brozovic, Rakitic, Kovacic; Perisic, Mandzukic, Kraneric
Italy: Buffon, De Silvestri, Bonucci, Ranocchia, Darmian, Parolo, De Rossi, Marchisio, Candreva, Pellè, El Shaarawy
