Antonio Conte introduces a new 4-3-3 system as Italy travel to Group H leaders Croatia in a Euro 2016 qualifier.

Follow the action as it happens and give your views on our LIVEBLOG.

It kicks off at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT) at the Stadion Poljud in Split, but the game will be played behind closed doors due to previous crowd trouble from Croatia supporters.

Antonio Conte introduces a new 4-3-3 system as Italy travel to Group H leaders Croatia in a Euro 2016 qualifier.

Follow the action as it happens and give your views on our LIVEBLOG.

It kicks off at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT) at the Stadion Poljud in Split, but the game will be played behind closed doors due to previous crowd trouble from Croatia supporters.

These sides drew 1-1 at San Siro in November 2014, as Ivan Perisic made the most of a Gigi Buffon howler to wipe out Antonio Candreva’s opener.

Buffon was a doubt for this game due to an elbow problem, but he is fit to start in Split.

There are numerous injury problems, as Conte misses Marco Verratti, Daniele De Rossi, Andrea Barzagli, Giorgio Chiellini and Simone Zaza.

He adopts a new 4-3-3 system, scrapping his trademark 3-5-2, as this tactic is more commonly used in Serie A.

Candreva and Stephan El Shaarawy flank Graziano Pelle, while in defence Roma’s Lorenzo Ariaudo is chosen.

Croatia have defender Vedran Corluka suspended, while Dejan Lovren, Tin Jedvaj, Napoli’s Ivan Strinic, Luka Modric and Nikica Jelavic are unavailable.

Mario Mandzukic complained of muscular problems this week, but starts anyway.

Inter midfielders Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic, plus Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic, pull the strings.

Only two points separate them at the top of Group H and they are both unbeaten so far in this qualifying campaign.

In fact, the Azzurri haven’t lost any of their last 45 qualifiers for Euro or World Cup tournaments, securing 33 wins and 12 draws since a 3-1 defeat to France in September 2006.

Croatia have an excellent record against Italy, losing only once with three wins and four stalemates. That lone defeat was 4-0 in their very first meeting back in April 1942.

The referee this evening is England’s Martin Atkinson.

Croatia: Subasic; Srna, Vida, Schildenfeld, Pranjic; Rakitic, Brozovic; Perisic, Kovacic, Olic; Mandzukic

Croatia bench: Vargic, Kalinic, Vrsaljko, Leskovic, Leovac, Jajalo, Badelj, Pjaca, Kramaric, Sharbini, Rebic, N Kalinic

Italy: Buffon; De Silvestri, Bonucci, Astori, Darmian; Parolo, Pirlo, Marchisio; Candreva, Pelle, El Shaarawy

Italy bench: Sirigu, Padelli, De Sciglio, Moretti, Ranocchia, Pasqual, Bertolacci, Vazquez, Soriano, Immobile, Sansone, Gabbiadini

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