Early indications suggest that Italy will face France on Tuesday with a strike force consisting of Mario Balotelli and Stephan El Shaarawy.

The Azzurri will take on the French at Parma in a glamour friendly to bring an end to a footballing year which saw the Italians reach the Final of Euro 2012.

According to reports, 20-year-old Milan man El Shaarawy will get a start after Roma’s Daniel Pablo Osvaldo left the squad because of injury.

The only other noteworthy experiment could see Lazio’s Antonio Candreva given a start in Cesare Prandelli’s 4-3-1-2.

Italy possible: Buffon; Maggio, Chiellini, Barzagli, Balzaretti; Candreva, Pirlo, Marchisio; Montolivo; Balotelli, El Shaarawy.

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