Sunday, October 12, 2014

Italy coach set to shuffle wingers for Malta game

Italy coach set to shuffle wingers for Malta game

Antonio Conte is set to drop Mattia De Sciglio and Matteo Darmian for Italy's Euro 2016 qualifier in Malta on today

Following an underwhelming performance against Azerbaijan in Palermo, Conte is expected to utilise his wide options by recalling Antonio Candreva and Manuel Pasqual.

The 32-year-old Fiorentina defender Pasqual will take to the left-flank, and Lazio’s Candreva is set to win the 25th cap in his usual right-wing position.

After Giorgio Chiellini stole the headlines in the Azerbaijan victory, Conte will hope to keep the Azzurri’s 100% Group I record with another win against the point-less minnows in Ta’Qali.

Currently top of Group I on goals scored, Italy will face a sterner test in the next international break, facing Croatia in Milan before a trip to Hungary in the November international break.

Monday’s opponents Malta have not won a competitive match since a victory away to Armenia in June 2013 – during a World Cup qualifying campaign that saw Italy beat the Reds on two occasions, both finishing 2-0.

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