Italy reshuffle in tonight’s Euro 2016 qualifier with Croatia, moving Daniele De Rossi and Matteo Darmian.

It kicks off at 19.45 GMT at San Siro, as the pitch has been able to drain away excess water from this weekend’s torrential rain.

The sun was back shining on Milan today, meaning the game could go ahead despite serious problems in the city.

Italy reshuffle in tonight’s Euro 2016 qualifier with Croatia, moving Daniele De Rossi and Matteo Darmian.

It kicks off at 19.45 GMT at San Siro, as the pitch has been able to drain away excess water from this weekend’s torrential rain.

The sun was back shining on Milan today, meaning the game could go ahead despite serious problems in the city.

Both teams are joint top of their group with a 100 per cent record after three matches, so this is effectively a play-off for the leadership. This evening Norway won 1-0 away to Azerbaijan.

Italy are without some key players, as Leonardo Bonucci is suspended with Andrea Pirlo, Marco Verratti, Mario Balotelli, Angelo Ogbonna, Andrea Barzagli and Davide Astori injured.

It means Antonio Conte has to make some changes, using Torino full-back Darmian in the defensive three.

De Rossi takes on the Pirlo deep-lying midfield playmaker role and celebrates his 100th Azzurri cap.

Simone Zaza keeps his spot alongside Ciro Immobile of Borussia Dortmund, but Graziano Pellè is on the bench and ready to come on after scoring on his senior international debut.

Manuel Pasqual struggles to get into the Fiorentina line-up, but he starts here with Mattia De Sciglio of Milan on the other wing.

Croatia Coach Niko Kovac insisted his side “could not be considered favourites” at San Siro and a draw would be a good result.

He has to do without Nikica Jelavic and Mario Pasalic for this match, but Inter talent Mateo Kovacic is dropped from a top quality midfield.

Croatia have a remarkably good record against Italy, as the only loss was their very first encounter, 4-0 in Genoa in April 1942, along with three draws and three victories.

The most recent encounter was at Euro 2012, when Pirlo’s free kick earned a 1-1 draw in the group stage.

Croatia won 2-1 in Palermo precisely 20 years ago to the day in a Euro ’96 qualifier with Davor Suker – now President of their Federation – scoring twice.

The referee for this game will be Dutchman Bjorn Kuipers.

Italy: Buffon; Darmian, Ranocchia, Chiellini; De Sciglio, Candreva, De Rossi, Marchisio, Pasqual; Zaza, Immobile

Italy bench: Sirigu, Perin, Moretti, Rugani, Parolo, Bonaventura, Bertolacci, Soriano, El Shaarawy, Cerci, Pellè, Giovinco

Croatia: Subasic; Srna, Corluka, Vida, Pranjic; Brozovic, Modric; Perisic, Rakitic, Olic; Mandzukic

Croatia bench: L Kalinic, Vargic, Vrsaljko, Jedvaj, Lovren, Leovac, Halilovic, Badelj, Kovacic, Sharbini, Cop, Kramaric

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