Italy 1-1 Spain

“We are a year and a half off the World Cup, but we have to realise what this game is worth now”.

Both teams have changed coach since Italy’s 2-0 win in June at Euro 2016 with Giampiero Ventura replacing Antonio Conte for Italy and Julen Lopetegui taking over for Spain in place of Vicente del Bosque.

Despite the relative youthfulness of Italy, Spain coach Lopetegui suggested: “Italy are hard opponents because they have top individual players but also a collective strength that’s based on years of experience”.

Euro 2016 heroes Iceland claimed a dramatic 3-2 home win against Finland, twice coming from behind to do so.

It has been a big week for one of France’s rising stars as Presenel Kimpembe has gone from playing in Paris Saint-Germain’s reserve team to earning a debut call-up to the national side.

Buffon, who won the World Cup with Italy in 2006, broke a 22-year-old Serie A record last season for not conceding a goal, going 974 consecutive minutes before he was finally beaten.

In other World Cup qualifying scores, Ireland Republic tagged Georgia 1-0, Macedonia suffered a 2-1 defeat to Israel, Serbia battered Moldova 3-0, Iceland edged Finland 3-2, while Austria and Wales ended 2-2, so too did Turkey and Ukraine. On top of that, midfield schemer Marco Verratti is probably less than 100% fit.

Bonucci hopes the familiar surroundings of Juventus Stadium will be beneficial.

Juventus legend Gianluigi Buffon will be a key member of the Italy team as he takes the custodian’s role once again and is expected to play a crucial role in the match.

As for his selection, there seems little doubt but that his side will continue to look very much like the Italy which did so well in France this summer.

The Sevilla man should have secured the win later in the half but he dragged a shot wide when played through on Buffon’s goal. Bet on the game: the total is less than 2.5 goals.

Ramos was one of five Spain players to pick up a yellow card and Lopetegui felt that played a part in the result.

Watch a pre-match press conference previewing the World Cup qualifier with Buffon and new Italy manager Gian Piero Ventura in the video below.

“Spain are stronger in possession, but there are many different games to go, starting from the trip to Skopje”.

This is traditionally a low-scoring fixture with the most recent four editions and nine of the overall 11 this century serving up two goals or fewer, and seven of those contests containing at least one clean sheet, but there is reason to be confident that this will be a more open affair.

Roma talisman Daniele De Rossi is set to be used as the playmaker with clubmate Alessandro Florenzi and Milan’s Mattia De Sciglio in wing roles. Stand by for an intriguing qualifier.