MONDAY 13th November 2017

IS THIS BUFFON'S LAST MATCH FOR ITALY ? 

ITALY V/S SWEDEN

 

Italy was in Group G in the world cup qualification route to Russia 2018.

Italy did not perform well in the qualification in a group which contained Spain, Albania, Macedonia and Liechtenstein.

Italy  finished second with 23 points behind Spain which finished with 28 points.

As a result of finishing second place Italy participate in round two which are in the form of play offs.

In the play off, the teams participate in a 2 legged fixture in which the winner goes to world cup on aggregate.

Italy was drawn with Sweden in the play offs which defeated them in the first leg with   1 - 0.

The 4  time world cup champions have participated in the world cup a record 18 times.

Tonight's second leg match against Sweden is a must win for Italy or risk loosing out on the world cup for the first time since 1958

Mondays game at Sansiro could be Buffon's last game for Italy should they fail to win after he recently confirmed that he will retire after the world cup.

Sweden in the other hand finished second behind france in group A.

PREDICTED LINE UPS:

Both teams will involve the same players except for verati who is the only absentee in the Italy match after picking a yellow card in the first leg.

ITALY:  (3-5-2):

 Buffon; Chiellini, Bonucci, Barzagli; Darmian, Verratti, De Rossi, Parolo, Candreva; Immobile, Belotti

Subs: Donnarumma, Perin, Rugani, Gagliardini, Florenzi, Insigne, Astori, Jorginho, Eder, Bernardeschi, Zappacosta, Gabbiadini,

SWEDEN: (4-4-2):

 Olsen; Krafth, Granqvist, Lindelof, Augustinsson; Claesson, Ekdal, Larsson, Forsberg; Berg, Toivonen

Subs: Johnsson, Nodfeldt, Larsson, Olsson, Guidetti, Johansson, Helander, Svensson, Jansson, Rohden, Thelin, Sea