Italy Coach Antonio Conte explained what he aims to learn from tomorrow’s match with Belgium and his unorthodox squad.
The friendly kicks off on Friday at 19.45 GMT in Brussels.
Conte has been testing out the 4-4-2 formation and admitted “the line-up is very close to the one I saw in the papers over the last few days.
“Last month we faced Azerbaijan with a 4-4-2, Norway the 3-5-2 moving to 4-4-2 during the game. Don’t underestimate the 3-5-2, which as far as I am concerned is really a 3-3-4.
Italy Coach Antonio Conte explained what he aims to learn from tomorrow’s match with Belgium and his unorthodox squad.
The friendly kicks off on Friday at 19.45 GMT in Brussels.
Conte has been testing out the 4-4-2 formation and admitted “the line-up is very close to the one I saw in the papers over the last few days.
“Last month we faced Azerbaijan with a 4-4-2, Norway the 3-5-2 moving to 4-4-2 during the game. Don’t underestimate the 3-5-2, which as far as I am concerned is really a 3-3-4.
“We are seeking tactical responses in tough and probing tests in order to figure out how far we can go.
“I want to test out a few situations, including tactical options, ahead of the Euros. The result does matter, but only to a degree. We want to play football and give an identity to this side, analysing both the positive and the negative.
“We don’t want to come here, defend and play on the counter. That is not part of what we’re building. We want to play football and take the initiative.
“Whatever happens in this game, we mustn’t get ahead of ourselves or depressed. I wanted us to face top level opposition at this time to understand if we’re on the right track, what needs to be improved and how we have to move forward.”
With this in mind, Conte was criticised for picking some veterans who are not at their peak while ignoring the likes of Domenico Berardi, Lorenzo Insigne and Jorginho.
“We are trying to form a Nazionale that knows how to overcome difficult moments. My career has taught me that these are overcome first of all by men rather than simply good players.
“I am very happy with the players in the squad, including those who aren’t here now. If we want to think of achieving extraordinary things, we need extraordinary men. That is my belief, it is fundamental and I will continue with it.
“We did without Andrea Pirlo, Daniele De Rossi and Marco Verratti in many of the qualifiers, while it’s good that Claudio Marchisio is fit again.
“These are games we need to get some guaranteed alternatives, players who can be reliable in a tournament where I can only call 20 plus three goalkeepers.
“It is important to evaluate and find the alternatives to our certainties. In the last two games Verratti and Marco Parolo did very well, as did Roberto Soriano, Riccardo Montolivo and Alessandro Florenzi against Norway.
“These are important tests and we mustn’t make mistakes if we are to find a 23-man group who can handle a European Championship or World Cup. That choice is the most important of all.
“I won’t be able to see these players again until March and cannot give them vital input, so we’ll see what response we get from the game and make evaluations.”