Italy begin their World Cup journey with a tie against Israel having won just three of their last six games.
Their last game, a friendly at home to France ended in a 3-1 defeat so the Italians need to get their qualifying campaign off with a win.
Israel are not exactly a major force in world football but as other nations have discovered in football nothing is a sure thing.
With only the top team from each group guaranteed a place in the finals in Russia, Itlay will have to be aware of their biggest rivals in Group G, Spain, who are home to Liechtenstein this evening.
Republic of Ireland duo Seamus Coleman and John O’Shea have recovered from injury and are available for Monday’s World Cup qualifier in Serbia.
