Malta vs. Italy: How the Azzurri Should Line Up in Euro 2016 Qualifier

Monday's Euro 2016 qualifier against Malta is another game Italy should win by a large margin, but historically (and even recently) they have played almost mercifully, keeping the score as low as possible. 

They could have drawn against Azerbaijan if not for a late header from Giorgio Chiellini. They could have joined Spain and Germany this week as the victims of some of the biggest upsets we have ever seen in Euro qualifying.

Italy's defenders almost had as many shots as their strikers. Simone Zaza was particularly wasteful in his third appearance for his country with six shots and only one on target, according to WhoScored.com.

That's why things should change a little bit against Malta. The formation (3-5-2) could stay the same, but not necessarily the personnel.

Zaza and Ciro Immobile have played the last few games together up front to moderate success. It's time to try others.

Graziano Pelle has waited years to get a call back from La Nazionale. He went to the Netherlands and scored buckets of goals for Feyenoord and is now playing some good football with Southampton in the Premier League. Pelle got his call from coach Antonio Conte, and now he should get his start.

Pelle has upstaged Mario Balotelli as the premier Italian striker playing in England. The 29-year-old is a risk-taker, often attempting some difficult shots, but the risks often pay off. He is also a power forward, standing 6'4". 

"Graziano represents what I've always said," said Conte, per Goal.com. "Meritocracy leads to a place in the national team for a player who in two years has scored 50 goals."

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Beside him up front should be Sebastian Giovinco, who hit the post and caused all sorts of problems in the little time he played against Azerbaijan. As Giovinco is nearly a foot shorter than Pelle, the two would offer a neat partnership with different characteristics: Giovinco with the speedy cuts and Pelle with the imposing presence.

Things could change or stay the same in midfield, but Marco Verratti should start if he is indeed healthy.

Many asked questions when Andrea Pirlo was invited back to the national team as to whether he would stand in Verratti's way. But the two can play together, as they did in the World Cup, forming a creative, deep-lying duo that could split the attention of any team facing them. 

Expect Claudio Marchisio to play as much as he wants with Italy, as he is one of the few midfielders who can go forward with confidence.

On the flanks, Italy should continue with Mattia De Sciglio on the left and Matteo Darmian on the right. The 21-year-old De Sciglio still makes mistakes, giving up the ball and making late tackles, but he is learning, and games against Malta and Azerbaijan allow those kind of mistakes.

As for Darmian, it is all about consolidating his spot in the starting XI for years to come. He is a versatile player, very much the kind of wing-back Conte likes to use, getting up and down to great effect.

The one thing that should not change is the defence. Leonardo Bonucci and Chiellini are modern defenders. They can score, kickstart a play and defend.

However, their third partner is not yet settled. Without Andrea Barzagli, the third man is often Andrea Ranocchia or Angelo Ogbonna. Either could play against Malta, but Ogbonna has made some progress to start this early Serie A season, while Ranocchia already got some playing time on Friday. 

Finally, there is Gianluigi Buffon. He demands the respect of the team and has the most caps among them, but perhaps it is time to play Salvatore Sirigu, who is nine years younger and a reliable goalkeeper himself for Paris Saint-Germain. Sirigu deserves a chance to start a few games in a row, and a game against Malta is not particularly one that demands the experience of a goalkeeper like Buffon.

It is also a game Italy should win without problems, but with this team that is usually never the case.