Prandelli to ring in changes for Italy

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli is set to ring the changes after a tense and “insufficient” display against Bulgaria has left the Azzurri desperately seeking a win against Malta on Tuesday. Four days after escaping with a 2-2 draw in Sofia, Italy host the islanders in Modena in a World Cup 2014 qualifier that most expect the 2006 champions to win. Malta sit a lowly 139th in the FIFA world rankings and have scored only two goals against Italy, to the Azzurri’s 15, from the teams’ four previous encounters. But although a win would appease the home camp, Prandelli is unlikely to be satisfied unless Italy start showing they have the mettle for a 10-match campaign which ends at home to Armenia in a little over a year’s time. In Sofia, Luboslav Penev’s side regularly exposed Italy’s fragile 3-5-2 tactical formation, which Prandelli changed to a 4-3-1-2 late on in a bid to stem the tide. And after several players were seen arguing, Prandelli — who is still missing Inter Milan forward Antonio Cassano (fitness) as well as Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli (eye operation) — is set to come down hard.