Marco Verratti: ‘Andrea Pirlo still important to Italy’

The win left Italy top of Group H with a two-point cushion on Norway, who they face in their final qualifier in Rome.

Three more nations claimed places at Euro 2016 on Saturday with Italy, Belgium and Wales all ensuring they will be present in France next summer. “It’s a system that I have difficulty understanding”. Last year, Cesare Prandelli’s Italy side failed to get past the first round of the World Cup for the second successive time.

Alexander Tettey and Alexander Soderlund were on the scoresheet for the Scandinavians but their hopes of progression will be carried into the final round of qualifiers as a result of Croatia’s 3-0 victory over Bulgaria.

The class of 2015 scarcely seem a vintage Italy side but, as Italy booked their passage to France, it seemed fitting that the strike which calmed their nerves came from a supposed stopper. It’s in a new stadium, and there will be lots of people there.

Antonio Conte’s eventually broke the deadlock in the 11th minute when Marco Verratti threaded a pass for Eder, who slotted home with a neat finish.

Back Italy to get the better of Azerbaijan this weekend.

Eder’s opener was equalized in the first half by Dimitrij Nazarov, who took advantage of a clumsy defensive clearance by the Juventus’ Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci. Sadiqov, on his 100th worldwide appearance, does tremendously well to clear Eder’s effort off the line!

El Shaarawy restored Italy’s lead by redirecting a cross from Antonio Candreva into an empty net on a play that began with Pelle. His name has been recently linked with the Roma bench, but it is to take for granted that his only aim for the near future is winning EURO 2016.

Meanwhile, Mario Balotelli has not been included in Antonio Conte’s squad with Grazinano Pelle expected to spearhead the attack once more following a splendid start to the season with Southampton in the Premier League.

Dmitri Nazarov pounced on a loose ball to beat a seething Gigi Buffon from the edge of the area.

Azerbaijan finished the match with 10 men after Badavi Hüseynov was sent off for pulling back Sebastian Giovinco denying him a scoring chance.