Germany hosts Italy in a high profile International friendly on Tuesday night in Munich.
It is needless to say that both Antonio Conte and Joachim Loew know what the real worth of Tuesday night’s friendly game is and will not shy away from trying experimental setups and combinations that would benefit the squads in the long run with one eye at the European Championships this summer in France. However spectators can fully expect to see both teams ready to do what is needed to win.
Bonaventura misses out due to flu
Italy suffered a minor setback in the build up to the game against Germany as Bonaventura left Coverciano to return to Milan because of a flu. “Giacomo Bonaventura will not be part of the group departing for Germany, today he left the training camp because of the continuing fever symptoms which struck on Friday” – the FIGC announced in a statement on their official website (via FootballItalia).
Bonaventura has been Milan’s standout player this season alongside striker Carlos Bacca. His continual exclusion from the national side has been a point of debate among many Italian fans.
“This will be the last mach I have set a side for measuring various players. In our team there are youngsters who don’t have much experience and it will be important to see how they respond” – Conte said in a press conference (via David Amoyal). “Tomorrow I’ll look to validate the good performances I saw against Spain, seeing how in a month and a half I will have to submit the final list for Euro 2016.”
Conte looks likely to start with a 3-4-3 formation tomorrow. Buffon is set to start in goal with his ever so reliable Juventus teammate Bonucci ahead of him at the heart of defense flanked by Acerbi and Ranocchia on both sides.
Montolivo and Jorginho would control things in midfield with the former playing as the Regista. Florenzi and Antonelli are expected to occupy the flanks.
In attack, AS Roma’s El Sharaawy and Napoli’ Lorenzo Insigne should be the ones partnering Simone Zaza up front.
Should Conte Go All Experimental Against Germany?
However should Conte decide to tinker with his standard formation, the 3-4-3 would drift into a 4-2-4, something he used to employ at Bari early on in his managerial career. According to Di Marzio, Darmian and Bernardeschi are expected to start ahead of Ranocchia and Florenzi.
The formation would then revert back to an orthodox back two of Acerbi and Bonucci supported by Darmian and Antonelli on the flanks, Jorginho and Montolivo as the pivot and Insigne, Bernardeschi, El Sharaawy all supporting Zaza in attack.
