Italy coach Antonio Conte will be testing the performance levels and fitness of his players ahead of the 2016 European Championship finals in a friendly match against Scotland at the National Stadium, in Ta’ Qali, next May.
The news was confirmed by the Malta Football Association on their official website, yesterday.
They said agreement had been reached between the Italian football federation officials and their counterparts from the Scottish FA to play the friendly here on May 29 with kick-off time set for 20.45.
Italy, who twice beat Malta with a similar narrow margin of 1-0 in the qualifying Group H on their way to the Euro 2016 finals, were drawn in a tough group in France that includes top seeds Belgium, Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Sweden and Republic of Ireland.
Azzurri coach Antonio Conte will be conducting a training camp in Montpellier as the Italians play against Finland in a second friendly a week after taking on the Scots.
The last time Scotland played Italy was in a Euro 2008 qualifier on November 17, 2007. On that occasion, Christian Panucci scored a very late goal for the visitors who left Glasgow with all points after a 2-1 win.
Italy played Scotland ten times in all, managing seven wins and two draws. Their only upset to the Scots came in a 1965 World Cup qualifier away which Edmondo Fabbri’s team lost 1-0.
Scotland will figure in a second glamour friendly in the off-season as they play France in Metz on June 4, six days before the finals start.
Malta training camp
Home Nations England, Wales and Northern Ireland all reached the Euro 2016 finals at the end of the qualifying phase last year but Scotland failed to emulate them after finishing fourth in Group D behind Germany, Poland and Ireland in that order.
Meanwhile, the Scottish FA also confirmed that Gordon Strachan’s national squad will shift to Malta for a training camp at the end of the domestic season.
The two nations are in the same 2018 World Cup group and clash in the opener on September 4 in Malta.
“The national coach believes the combination of a training camp and high-calibre opposition will enable him to assess his squad and provide meaningful competition before they return to Malta on September 4 for the opening match of World Cup qualifying Group F,” the Scottish FA said in a statement yesterday.
Strachan said it was important to be ready for the opening World Cup qualifier as his team was also paired with ‘Auld Enemy’ England, Slovakia, Slovenia and Lithuania in Group F.
“While we would rather be playing France or Italy in the European Championships, we must prepare properly against two top-class teams who will be highly motivated ahead of the finals,” he said.
“Games like these will provide a focus for our players and the coaching staff. The camp in Malta has the additional benefit of allowing us to familiarise ourselves with the facilities before our opening match in September.”