Italy could qualify for the European Under-21 Championship semi-finals with a win against hosts Israel tonight.
The Azzurrini won their opener 1-0 against England and kick-off in Tel Aviv at 19.30 UK time (18.30 GMT) this evening. Elsewhere in Group A, Norway thumped England 3-1.
Italy could qualify for the European Under-21 Championship semi-finals with a win against hosts Israel tonight.
The Azzurrini won their opener 1-0 against England and kick-off in Tel Aviv at 19.30 UK time (18.30 GMT) this evening. Elsewhere in Group A, Norway thumped England 3-1.
Luca Marrone is out for the rest of the tournament after straining his hamstring, so Riccardo Saponara of Empoli” data-scaytid=”5″>Empoli – soon to be Milan – steps in.
Manolo Gabbiadini is also picked instead of Fabio Borini to work with Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne in a 4-3-3 system.
Israel were held to a 2-2 draw in their opening game by 10-man Norway, which was their first ever point in the European Under-21 Championship Finals.
Marwan Kabha is unavailable after straining a muscle in his abdomen.
The only previous encounters were the play-offs for this tournament in 2008, resulting in a 0-0 draw in Ancona and 3-1 Italy victory in Tel Aviv.
Italy players will wear black armbands tonight to mark the death of an Italian soldier in Afghanistan.
Italy U-21: Bardi; Donati, Caldirola, Bianchetti, Biraghi; Saponara, Florenzi, Verratti; Insigne, Gabbiadini, Immobile
Italy bench: Colombi, Leali, Capuano, Regini, Bertolacci, Rossi, Crimi, Borini, Destro, Sansone, Paloschi
Israel U-21: Kleyman; Dasa, Vahaba, Ben Harush, Twatha; Zaguri, Krieff, Biton, Golasa; Kalibat; Turgeman
Israel bench: B Levi, Yanko, Davidzada, I Levi, Gotlib, Verta, Sallaich, Azam, Altman, Dabbur, Barouch