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| PROBABLE LINE-UPS |
POLAND  Szczesny Wasilewski, Perquis, Wawrzyniak, Piszczek Murawski, PolanskiBlaszczykowski, Mierzejewski, Peszko Lewandowski | ITALY  Buffon Maggio, Ogbonna, Chiellini, Criscito De Rossi, Pirlo, Marchisio Balotelli, Pazzini, Pepe |
Poland coach Franciszek Smuda will use the encounter against Italy to gauge the strength of his side ahead of the European Championship finals next year. Smuda will count on Robert Lewandowski and Jakub Blaszczykowski to provide the firepower in attack as the duo have scored the team's last six goals.
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli will be without several key players upfront for Friday's encounter. Antonio Cassano is recovering from heart surgery and is expected to miss four to six months while Giuseppe Rossi is sidelined with a serious knee injury and might miss the Euro 2012 finals. Sebastian Giovinco was sent home earlier in the week after tests showed he had suffered a muscle strain.
Angelo Ogbonna will likely make his debut for the Azzurri as Andrea Ranocchia and Andrea Barzagli are dealing with minor injuries and will not play. Alessandro Matri was recalled to the squad while Antonio Di Natale was omitted altogether.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Poland have scored eight goals in their last five encounters while keeping two clean sheets during that span.
- The Euro 2012 co-hosts are unbeaten in their last five international friendlies, winning two and drawing three.
- Franciszek Smuda's side are currently 64th in the Fifa rankings.
- Italy went undefeated in their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, earning 26 points from 10 games.
- The Azzurri finished first in Group C, scoring 20 goals and conceding just two.
- Cesare Prandelli's men have won two out of their last three friendlies including a 2-0 triumph over world champions Spain.
Prediction
Poland will be fired up in front of a capacity crowd and will give the Italians all they can handle in what will be more than a friendly for the home side.
Editor's Prediction
Poland 1-1 Italy 
