Italy play Uruguay at Nice

Italy and Uruguay are set to go head to head in an international friendly at Nice on Wednesday night. Football fans will get to see their heroes in action.

The head coaches should test out new combinations. These games should be used as a preparation for the world cup qualifiers ahead.

Italians & the Uruguayans have been in different forms of late. But this should be a good contest with nothing at stake for both teams.

Gian Piero Ventura would like to make the most of this match, so as to get the squad kicking for the game against Liechtenstein.

Team and Tactics :-

Italy

Ventura has done well to get the best of his current crop of players. Replacing Antonio Conte was not an easy task.

Since Leonardo Bonucci & Giorgio Chiellini played the full 90 minutes in the champions league final, Ventura could give them a breather & field Alessio Romagnoli and Daniele Rugani in their place.

Ventura have kept to the tactics of a solid back four. This has led to some quality centre backs at his disposal.

Marco Verrati will be unavailable due to injury. Ventura will likely miss him. Claudio Marchisio is available but unlikely to feature in the playing XI, as he played the champions league final.

Ventura looks for experience in the middle of the park, hence he could start with Marco Parolo & Daniele De Rossi.

Finally, Ciro Immobile should be joined by Andrea Belloti, with the latter coming on the back of a good season with Torino.

Probable Line-up : Donnarumma, Romagnoli, De Sciglio, Rugani, Damian, De Rossi, Candreva, Parolo, Bernardeschi, Belloti, Immobile.

Uruguay

Luis Suarez will be absent due to injury & this will not help Oscar Tabarez’s cause.

Christian Stuani of Middlesbrough should replace Suarez & should operate in the hole behind Cavani.

Uruguay might not be strong at the wings but seeing Italian fullbacks have a weakness, Tabarez should deploy Christian Rodriguez & Mathias Corujo as wingers.

Diego Godin is in doubt due to injury. So let’s wait & see, what combinations will Tabarez stick with.

Probable Line-up : Muslera, Gimenez, Pereira, Caceres, Silva, Sanchez, Gonzalez, Corujo, Stuani, Rodriguez, Cavani.

Prediction

Italy should edge Uruguay 2-1 considering both teams recent form.