Italy extend qualifying unbeaten run to 50 games

The Italians can guarantee the top spot in the group should they remain unbeaten in their final game.

The ex-Juventus boss successfully booked the Azzurri’s place at Euro 2016, following the team’s 3-1 triumph over Azerbaijan on Saturday.

“We want to win”.

Per-Mathias Hogmo’s side would likely need to take all three points against the Azzurri because even a draw for Norway would be insufficient if the Croatians win in Malta due to the head to head record between the two sides.

Although the result didn’t matter much to Italy in terms of qualifying for Euro 2016, Italy can still be content with having made it 49 consecutive qualification matches without suffering defeat.

Norway have kept a clean sheet in their last 4 matches in the European Championship (including qualifiers).

Alessandro Florenzi (Italy) The only Italy player to regularly cause a degree of panic in the Norway defence for the first hour with his jinking runs, risky crosses and, when the opportunities presented themselves, fierce shots.

Despite the promising opening 20 minutes, Gianluigi Buffon was made to pick the ball out of his net due to a superb hit from Tettey.

“With Antonio Conte in charge, there is no room for relaxation”, Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci said.

Conte has taken English lessons to prepare an eventual arrival in the Premier League and recently visited the Tottenham training ground. “This is the right mentality because we always go out on the pitch ready to win”.

Norway kicked off in the second and final automatic place and ahead of Croatia by two points.

“It’s a system that is created to get the ball forward to the front men”, said the Brazil-born forward, who gave Italy an 11th-minute lead after running on to Marco Verratti’s superbly timed long ball from midfield.

“We will honour the qualifying phase by playing a great game against Norway in Rome”.

Conte, without the services of suspended midfielder Daniele De Rossi, is expected to start Eder and Stephan El Shaarawy in attack.