Allt om Calcio! 2014/2015

The Corriere dello Sport reports that the Azzurri spent two training sessions yesterday working on a 4-4-2 system, with Sportmediaset also believing that a change of system will be employed.

All the players who took the field against Croatia have returned to their respective clubs, so it will be an unfamiliar Azzurri line-up at the Marassi.

Mattia Perin is expected to start in goal in familiar surroundings, with the Genoa goalkeeper set to win his first official cap after appearing in a friendly against club side Fluminense before the 2014 World Cup.

In defence Leonardo Bonucci is expected to return after serving a suspension, with Emiliano Moretti, Luca Antonelli and Lorenzo De Silvestri completing the back four.

In midfield Atletico Madrid’s Alessio Cerci is expected to he handed a starting shirt, with Mattia Destro and Sebastian Giovinco expected to make up the attack.

“We have realised that what we need above all is patience. We got the chance to test out many players who normally wouldn’t be able to play for Italy and they gave a great response,” he told Rai Sport.

“Now we have to keep faith with this project and trust Conte will bring Italy back to the top, becoming that team that everyone once feared.”

Coach Antonio Conte was visibly irritated today and hit back at critics, also suggesting nobody would ‘help’ the Nazionale.

“It’s difficult to get into his head to know what he meant, but as far as I am concerned some worrying statistics have emerged showing there are very few Italians who play every weekend in Serie A. That makes it difficult for the Coach to find suitable alternatives.

“However, we also know that thanks to Conte there is an important project, organisation and a plan. Qualification is not easy, as everyone comes looking for a result now, so we need patience and when we are on international duty to get into the mentality the Coach wants: sacrifice and hard work.”

With that in mind, Conte also implied Balotelli had not yet understood the need to work hard for the Azzurri.

“Nobody pinned the blame on Balotelli or anyone else. It was the fault of the 23 who went to the World Cup and all the mistakes we made during that adventure,” pointed out Bonucci.

“I have always said that Mario is in control of his destiny. If he is intelligent enough to understand he needs to have the mentality of a workhorse, to be part of a team and fight hard, then he can become important for this group. It all depends on him.