Italy face Germany in tonight’s European Under-21 Championship clash, but need to win at least 3-1 to be sure of a semi-final spot.
It kicks off at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT) and completes Group C.
The Azzurrini won the opener 2-0 against Denmark, but then capitulated 3-1 to the Czech Republic, while the Germans have a 100 per cent record so far.
Only the group winners can go through to the semi-finals and the role of best runner-up has already been taken by Slovakia in Group B (eliminating Portugal on goal difference).
Italy face Germany in tonight’s European Under-21 Championship clash, but need to win at least 3-1 to be sure of a semi-final spot.
It kicks off at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT) and completes Group C.
The Azzurrini won the opener 2-0 against Denmark, but then capitulated 3-1 to the Czech Republic, while the Germans have a 100 per cent record so far.
Only the group winners can go through to the semi-finals and the role of best runner-up has already been taken by Slovakia in Group B (eliminating Portugal on goal difference).
Gigi Di Biagio’s men realise even beating Germany this evening might not be enough to secure qualification.
It would be sufficient just to get three points as long as the Czech Republic do not beat Denmark in the other game.
The other option would be for Italy to beat Germany by scoring at least three and with a two-goal cushion.
There is one other possibility that could see both Italy and Germany go through to the semi-finals.
If the Azzurrini win 3-1 and top the group, Germany would have an absolutely identical record to Slovakia.
They’d both have six points, a goal difference of +3 and having scored six goals.
At this stage, yellow cards would come into play and Slovakia received four in the tournament, while Germany have only three.
If the Germans avoid a booking tonight and lose 3-1, they’ll still qualify ahead of Slovakia as best runner-up.
Even with one yellow card, they’d be level with Slovakia there too and progress due to their superior position in the UEFA rankings.
If Italy were to win 4-2, then that would send both automatically through to the semi-finals, boosting the German goal difference.
Di Biagio is expected to revamp his line-up yet again, bringing in Inter’s Roberto Gagliardini with Antonio Barreca at left-back.
Despite his excellent form coming off the bench in both games, Federico Chiesa of Fiorentina can’t break into the starting XI.
Probable line-ups
Italy (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Conti, Rugani, Caldara, Barreca; Pellegrini, Gagliardini, Benassi; Berardi, Petagna, Bernardeschi
Germany (4-2-3-1): Pollersbeck; Toljan, Stark, Kempf, Gerhardt; Arnold, Dahoud; Weiser, Meyer, Gnabry; Selke