Israel vs Italy - Verratti keen to get make winning start to World Cup qualifying

Posted Sunday, September 04, 2016 by PA

Midfielder Marco Verratti is looking to put the disappointment of missing Euro 2016 behind him as Italy kick-off their World Cup qualifying campaign in Israel.

The 23-year-old had to sit out this summer's tournament because of a groin injury but having made his international comeback as a substitute in Thursday's friendly defeat to France he is raring to get going under new coach Giampiero Ventura.

"I am happy to be back with the national side," the Paris St Germain midfielder told a press conference.

"I'm at 100 per cent even if I still need to rediscover my match fitness.

"I want to be part of this new era, I hope it's a winning era.

"We have really big objectives and this means that we are a big national side because we aim for the best.

"I often speak with Ventura about my position on the pitch; playmakers are often man-marked and so the coach wants to play me as an attacking midfielder which I'm comfortable with.

"Compared to before (under Antonio Conte) we perhaps look to keep the ball more in order to create space where we can do damage."

Italy have been drawn in a group with fellow heavyweights Spain, Israel, Macedonia, Albania and Liechtenstein.

"We have been put in a difficult group, but if we do what we can then we have a good chance of getting through," added Verratti.

"On Thursday we put France under difficulty and they are a quality side, although they were superior to us in individual moments."

Ventura has also been boosted by Leonardo Bonucci's arrival to join up with the squad after the Juventus defender missed the France defeat due to personal reasons.

However, he will be without Daniele De Rossi after the Roma midfielder withdrew from the squad with a calf injury sustained against France.

Israel are looking for an improvement on their Euro 2016 qualification attempt which saw them fourth in their group, ahead of only Cyprus and minnows Andorra, having failed to win any of their last three matches.

"The last campaign ended very disappointingly for me and for all the team members," captain Eran Zahavi wrote in his column on the Israeli Football Federation website.

"We tried, we did everything we could. We dreamed, we hoped but it did not work out. No excuses, no accusations, the better teams qualified.

"We are not running away from taking responsibility and we will remain united."