Reports say 16 players are guaranteed to make Italy’s Euro 2016 squad, while Antonio Conte considers a 3-4-3 formation.
The Azzurri will play Spain at home and Germany away in international friendlies over the next week as their preparation for the summer tournament continues.
Gazzetta dello Sport reports today that 16 of the places in Conte’s squad for the Euros are already secured.
Reports say 16 players are guaranteed to make Italy’s Euro 2016 squad, while Antonio Conte considers a 3-4-3 formation.
The Azzurri will play Spain at home and Germany away in international friendlies over the next week as their preparation for the summer tournament continues.
Gazzetta dello Sport reports today that 16 of the places in Conte’s squad for the Euros are already secured.
The newspaper believes the three goalkeepers will be Gigi Buffon, Mattia Perin and Salvatore Sirigu, while Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini and Matteo Darmian will go as defenders.
For the remaining defensive spots, the outlet believes Sassuolo’s Franceseco Acerbi is currently the favourite over Andrea Ranocchia and Davide Astori, while Luca Antonelli and Lorenzo De Silvestri will battle for full-back spots against Ignazio Abate and Mattia De Sciglio.
Gazzetta says Conte will take nine midfielders and that Marco Verratti, Claudio Marchisio, Marco Parolo, Antonio Candreva, Alessandro Florenzi and Stephan El Sharaawy are sure to go.
Andrea Pirlo and Daniele De Rossi are reportedly out of the equation, with Riccardo Montolivo, Thiago Motta and Jorginho fighting for a place in front of the defence.
For the remaining two spots, there will be a battle between Lorenzo Insigne, Federico Bernardeschi, Giacomo Bonaventura, Emanuele Giaccherini and Roberto Soriano.
Up front, Conte will pick Graziano Pelle, Simone Zaza and Eder according to Gazzetta. The fourth striker spot will be between Ciro Immobile and Stefano Okaka.
The newspaper also reports today that Conte wants to practice with a 3-4-3 formation, which would allow him to use Juventus’ defensive line while taking advantage of his wealth of wide options.
Gazzetta’s possible Italy XI: Buffon; Bonucci, Barzagli, Chiellini; Florenzi, Marchisio, Verratti, Darmian; Candreva, Zaza, El Shaarawy