Key Battles That Will Shape Italy's Clash with Norway
With Euro 2016 qualifications finally underway, Italy takes on Norway in the first match of the group stage on Tuesday.
Coach Antonio Conte is ready to tackle his first competitive outing in charge of the Italian national team as he'll look to build on the momentum following the recent 2-0 drubbing of the Netherlands in a friendly.
Conte's Italian side looked reinvigorated after moving on from that disastrous 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The team had plenty of energy and a more direct attack which troubled the Netherlands throughout the match.
The first task for the ex-Juventus coach is finding out how to best create mismatches against a modest Norwegian side that shouldn't cause too many problems if Italy are on their game and continue the excellent form shown against Holland.
Here are four key battles that will shape their clash against Norway.
Italy probable XI (3-5-2): Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Ranocchia, Leonardo Bonucci, Davide Astori; Matteo Darmian, Emanuele Giaccherini, Daniele De Rossi, Alessandro Florenzi, Mattia De Sciglio; Simone Zaza, Ciro Immobile.
Ciro Immobile Exposing Norway's Back Line
The Norwegian back line will have their hands full regardless of the striker Antonio Conte chooses to deploy.
The most obvious choice to spearhead the Azzurri attack will be Ciro Immobile, who scored a brilliant goal in the friendly against the Netherlands as he timed his run perfectly while receiving Leonardo Bonucci's accurate long ball.
The latest reports from Italian paper La Gazzetta dello Sport suggest that Simone Zaza will retain his starting position alongside Immobile after impressing in the last friendly against the Netherlands.
Zaza offers a different dimension to his strike partner, as he's much more physical and is a menace for opposing defenders, pressing anyone who's in possession and fighting hard to win every aerial challenge.
Norway's center-back pairing of Vegard Forren and Havard Nordtveit will have to hold a steady line and try to catch Immobile out of position with a few offside traps.
Italy's Playmakers vs. Norway's Midfielders
With Andrea Pirlo out of the match, Antonio Conte will go with Daniele De Rossi as his playmaker in the center of the park.
The Roma midfielder is able to pick out a perfectly weighted long ball while also being a stout defender when called upon who can also slot in as a center-back.
Ruben Jenssen is Norway's usual defensive midfielder who has the unenviable task of breaking up plenty of Italy attacks as he slots himself into the space right ahead of his defenders.
De Rossi will most likely be joined in the midfield by his Roma teammate Alessandro Florenzi, a high-energy player who can make runs into the box as well as track back and help the defenders.
Other than De Rossi and Florenzi, expect Emanuele Giaccherini to receive a starting spot in the midfield as well. Giaccherini is one of Antonio Conte's favorite players thanks to his versatility and willingness to work hard off the ball.
Italy Tracking the Pace of Elyounoussi
One of Norway's biggest threats in the attacking sector is Tarik Elyounoussi. The speedy winger who plies his trade at Hoffenheim can cause problems on the counter-attack when he has an open field ahead of him.
Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Ranocchia and Company certainly aren't the fleetest of foot and could get caught out with a high line, assuming Antonio Conte wants to choke the opposition in their own half with calculated possession.
While Elyounoussi isn't the most clinical finisher, he can set up teammates after getting into a dangerous position on the flank.
Italy's three-man back line should be composed of Bonucci, Ranocchia and Davide Astori, three hulking defenders who are able in the air but susceptible to pace on the counter.
The Formation Battle: 3-5-2 vs. 4-5-1
Antonio Conte's 3-5-2 that he used at Juventus carries on to the national team, while Norway will use a 4-5-1 under coach Per-Mathias Hogmo.
Both of these formations look to overload the midfield and stifle the other team in their own half. With around 10 midfielders patrolling the same area of the pitch, expect a match with plenty of pressure and not a lot of space for the players to work with once they're in possession.
According to La Gazzetta, Antonio Conte has confirmed a 3-5-2 formation and will most likely use Matteo Darmian as a right wing-back and Mattia De Sciglio on the opposite flank.
This tactical setup allows Italy to quickly switch to a 5-3-2 when they're defending, not giving a lot of space to Norway's attackers.