Italy vs France International Friendly Preview

PREVIEW

Didier Deschamps' men will be hoping to correct their woeful record on Italian soil, as they seek an improvement on last month's draw with Spain.

PROBABLE LINEUPS

ITALY 

Buffon 

Maggio, Barzagli, Chiellini, Peluso 

Marchisio, Pirlo, Giaccherini 

Montolivo, Balotelli, El Shaarawy 

FRANCE 

Lloris 

Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Sakho, Evra 

Cabaye, Capoue, Matuidi 

Menez, Giroud, Ribery 

TEAM NEWS

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has dropped midfielder Daniele De Rossi from his squad to face France, after the Roma player was sent off in the Derby della Capitale on Sunday for swinging at Stefano Mauri and subsequently falling foul of the manager's code of ethics.

Alessandro Florenzi is called up for the very first time, but the Azzurri coach has been dealt a setback with Domenico Criscito and Pablo Osvaldo withdrawing from the squad due to injury.

Stephan El Shaarawy could well start alongside Mario Balotelli, with Federico Peluso taking over at left-back, with Emanuele Giaccherini expected to join his Juventus team-mates and Riccardo Montolivo in midfield.

Didier Deschamps, meanwhile, is without Gael Clichy and Christophe Jallet after the full-backs limped out with injury, with Bordeaux's Benoit Tremoulinas and Olympique Lyonnais' Anthony Reveillere handed a call-up.

Yoann Gourcuff returns to the squad, but Etienne Capoue is expected to be preferred to Maxime Gonalons just behind Yohan Cabaye and Blaise Matuidi. Karim Benzema's withdrawal means Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud will be handed a start at Stadio Tardini on Wednesday.

Hugo Lloris' ongoing problems at Tottenham remains a selection headache for Deschamps to contend with, as his former Olympique de Marseille captain Steve Mandanda lies in wait for a start.

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Source: Goal