Updated at 19.01
- Paul Fennessy reports from the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille
ITALY DEFENDER LEONARDO Bonucci will start tonight’s match against Ireland, it has been confirmed, with the Italians making eight changes in total from the 1-0 win over Sweden.
Antonio Conte insisted pre-match that he would take the game seriously, and picking Bonucci certainly backs that assertion up.
The Juventus defender has impressed for Italy so far, providing a beautiful assist for the opening goal against Belgium, and keeping two clean sheets in two matches in the tournament.
Sky Sport Italia reports that the original plan was to rest Bonucci with the player set to be suspended for the next match if he receives a booking.
And with Italy guaranteed to finish top of Group E regardless of the outcome of this evening’s game, it was assumed Conte would leave out any players on a yellow card.
However, media reports suggest that the manager has been forced into playing Bonucci after other candidates for the centre-back role failed to impress in training.
Andrea Barzagli, another key centre-back, will also feature for the Italians owing to the perceived lack of viable alternatives, though fellow first-choice centre-back Giorgio Chiellini is rested.
Elsewhere in the team, the Azzurri are set to make a number of changes.
Conte yesterday confirmed that experienced goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon would miss out, as the 38-year-old has only recently gotten over a bout of the flu, with deputy Salvatore Sirigu set to come in in his place.
Simone Zaza and Ciro Immobile also start, with Lorenzo Insigne missing out.
In addition, Federico Bernardeschi is preferred to Stephan El Shaarawy midfield.
Italy starting XI to play Ireland: Sirigu, Barzagli, Bonucci, Ogbonna; Bernardeschi, Sturaro, Motta, Florenzi, De Sciligio; Zaza, Immobile.
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