MILAN, Nov 20 - Italy can afford to rotate their
squad for Wednesday's Euro 2008 Group B game at home to Faroe
Islands having secured qualification thanks to Saturday's 2-1
win in Scotland.
A victory in Modena over the bottom side would secure top
spot in the group ahead of already qualified France but events
in the stands and outside the stadium may be of more interest
that action on the pitch.
The match will be the first professional game played in
Italy since riots in Rome a week last Sunday following the
shooting dead of a Lazio fan by a police officer.
All Serie B and C games were postponed last weekend as a
mark of respect for the dead man with authorities also busy
tightening security ahead of the resumption of action.
No trouble is expected in the northern city of Modena,
especially with the Faroes bringing very few fans, but police
will still be on guard given the recent violence aimed at them.
Atalanta's match with AC Milan was abandoned two Sundays ago
when 'ultras', who had clashed with police before kickoff, tried
to smash a glass perimiter fence.
On the pitch Italy coach Roberto Donadoni is likely to
tinker with his lineup, if only to avoid the anger of Serie A
bosses should any injuries occur in a meaningless match.
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon may be rested while Juventus
winger Raffale Palladino could be handed a debut. His club
colleague Vincenzo Iaquinta is also pushing for a start upfront
after coming on as a substitute in Glasgow.
Italy have just two friendlies against the Netherlands and
Spain so far pencilled in before June's finals in Austria and
Switzerland so Donadoni may use the Faroes game to look at
different tactics.
Possible teams:
Italy: Marco Amelia; Fabio Grosso, Fabio Cannavaro, Andrea
Barzagli, Giorgio Chiellini; Andrea Pirlo, Daniele De Rossi,
Simone Perrotta; Rafaelle Palladino, Alberto Gilardino, Fabio
Quagliarella
Faroe Islands: Jakup Mikkelsen; Einar Hansen, Jon Roi
Jacobsen, Frodi Benjaminsen, Oli Hansen; Rokur av Flotum
Jespersen, Simun Samuelsen, Hjalgrim Elttor, Suni Olsen;
Christian Jacobsen, Rogvi Jacobsen.
(Reporting by Mark Meadows; Editing by Justin Palmer)