Italy vs. Azerbaijan: How the Azzurri Should Line Up in Euro 2016 Qualifier
Already sitting atop Group H, Italy are preparing to face Azerbaijan on Friday in a match they will be expected to win comfortably.
With Palermo's Renzo Barbera Stadium providing an intimidating atmosphere for the Euro 2016 qualifier, the Azzurri know their fans will demand nothing less than three points.
Even so, with another match with Malta to be played on Monday, Antonio Conte could be set to experiment with his starting XI to test a number of players rather than simply field his strongest side.
He has named a number of intriguing players in his latest squad, opting against merely calling on the same names once again.
Over the following pages is a look at how the coach is expected to line his team up, with the side broken down into each department of the expected 3-5-2 formation.
Goalkeeper
While other areas may see some changes, there is little doubt that the Azzurri captain Gianluigi Buffon will once again lead out his side in the Italian capital.
Fresh from a match against Roma that constantly threatened to boil over, the Juventus veteran will be hoping for a much calmer 90 minutes on Friday.
It will be the 144th international cap for the 36-year-old, further extending his lead atop the nation’s all-time appearance chart. With six clean sheets in eight club matches so far in 2014-15, Buffon will expect another quiet evening against Azerbaijan and should add to his hugely impressive record.
Defence
Andrea Barzagli is once again absent. His calf injury continues to keep him sidelined, with La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia) reporting the Juventus star could even miss another month of action.
His relapse leaves Conte with a decision to make on the right side of his back three, with a number of options available to the coach.
Juventus' Angelo Ogbonna, Inter captain Andrea Ranocchia and talented Empoli youngster Daniele Rugani are all viable contenders to take up that berth. Alongside them, the coach will undoubtedly select Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, both in excellent domestic form so far this term.
At wing-back, the highly impressive pair of Matteo Darmian and Mattia De Sciglio are almost certain to start, with little in the way of alternatives within the latest squad.
Midfield
It is perhaps in midfield where the greatest intrigue lies for observers of the Azzurri, with Conte’s recent comments leaving little to the imagination.
Speaking to Rai Sport (h/t Football Italia), the coach claimed he is likely to only start one of Marco Verratti or Andrea Pirlo, with the return of the latter now expected to impact upon the progress of his young compatriot.
Whoever wins that particular contest, Claudio Marchisio seems certain to take up one of the other three roles, the versatile Juventus man offering superb tactical intelligence and defensive diligence.
The trio is likely to be completed by either Alessandro Florenzi of Roma or Lazio's Marco Parolo.
Attack
With Mario Balotelli once again absent from the squad, Italy’s exciting young corps of attacking talent will be given a chance to shine. Ciro Immobile has made a huge impact since earning his maiden Azzurri cap, scoring in last month’s friendly against the Netherlands to register his first international goal.
He has also begun to score for new club Borussia Dortmund, netting three times in his last six appearances for the Bundesliga side.
Sassuolo’s Simone Zaza has made an equally good impression since breaking into the Italy setup, the 23-year-old also off the mark during the last international break.
Conte is expected to keep the faith with that pairing, with the in-form trio of Mattia Destro, Pablo Osvaldo and Graziano Pelle ready to replace them should they fail to shine.
Probable Italy XI (3-5-2): Buffon; Ranocchia, Bonucci, Chiellini; Darmian, Marchisio, Pirlo, Florenzi, De Sciglio; Immobile, Zaza