Italy looks to close defensive holes in friendly vs. Romania
ROME (AP) - Italy has had to do some deep introspection after a dispiriting beating by Belgium last week and what the Azzurri have discovered may come as a surprise for a national squad that has produced the likes of Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta and Fabio Cannavaro.
The 3-1 defeat in Brussels highlighted Italy's carelessness in defense lately.
Entering Tuesday's friendly with Romania in Bologna, Italy has kept only two clean sheets - against Malta and Bulgaria - in nine matches this year.
The Azzurri hadn't conceded three goals since a 4-2 loss to Brazil at the 2013 Confederations Cup - a run of 29 matches.
"The goals conceded against Belgium were due to carelessness on our part and we have to improve, because at the international level you are punished for even the most minimal errors," fullback Matteo Darmian said.
In winning its qualifying group for the European Championship, Italy conceded seven goals in 10 matches - two more than Croatia, which finished second in Group H.
In the Azzurri's final qualifier, Italy had to come back from a goal down to beat Norway 2-1 and secure the top spot.
Coach Antonio Conte has relied on a core of center backs that he used en route to winning three straight Serie A titles at Juventus: Andrea Barzagli, Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci.
But Barzagli has had a series of injuries recently and Chiellini and Bonucci are not as dependable as they once were.
Against Romania, Conte could test the rarely used Davide Astori, who is having a strong season at center back for Serie A leader Fiorentina. The coach may also want to take a better look at 20-year-old Alessio Romagnoli, the subject of a 25-million-euro ($27-million) transfer from Sampdoria to AC Milan this year.
Romagnoli has been solid for Italy's under-21 squad but has not been called up by Conte yet.
In midfield, Conte chose not to call up Andrea Pirlo for these friendlies and is also without the injured Daniele De Rossi and Marco Verratti.
Lazio's Antonio Candreva scored the opening goal against Belgium but could be rested against Romania.
In attack, Conte appears to be sticking with his forward pairing of Graziano Pelle and Eder.
Italy has gained only one point from its last three friendlies, drawing 1-1 with England in March then getting beat 1-0 by Portugal in June - the Azzurri's only other loss under Conte.
Romania qualified for Euro 2016 by finishing second behind Northern Ireland in Group F, conceding just two goals over 10 matches.
Italy and Romania have drawn 1-1 in their last two meetings, at Euro 2008 and a friendly in 2010.
After the attacks in Paris, there will be extra security at Bologna's Renato Dall'Ara stadium.
"Sport must continue like all other activities," said Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon, who could make his 154th national team appearance. "Sport is a means for coming together, for beauty, for happiness and for peace."
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Andrew Dampf can be followed at www.twitter.com/asdampf