France and Italy square up for crunch match

France and Italy walk out for their trans-Alpine clash at Zurich’s Letzigrund tonight knowing their Euro 2008 fate lies in the hands of Romania.

If the Romanians defeat Group C winners Holland in Bern in tonight’s other pool match, the two finalists at the 2006 World Cup will be eliminated.

If Romania, a point clear in second, draw or lose against the Dutch, the winner of the France-Italy match will qualify as runners-up.

France coach Raymond Domenech reverts to a 4-4-2, and dropped captain Lilian Thuram in one of three changes to the team that were walloped 4-1 by Holland on Friday.

Eric Abidal, a left-back by trade, comes in at centre-back as Thuram’s replacement, while Francois Clerc gets the nod over Willy Sagnol at right-back and striker Karim Benzema replaces underperforming Chelsea left-winger Florent Malouda.

World champions Italy make two changes following their 1-1 draw against Romania, with Antonio Cassano ousting fellow forward Alessandro Del Piero and midfield enforcer Gennaro Gattuso replacing Mauro Camoranesi.

France: Coupet, Clerc, Gallas, Abidal, Evra, Govou, Toulalan, Makelele, Ribery, Benzema, Henry.

Subs: Mandanda, Frey, Boumsong, Vieira, Malouda, Anelka, Nasri, Thuram, Squillaci, Gomis, Sagnol, Diarra.

Italy: Buffon, Zambrotta, Panucci, Chiellini, Grosso, Pirlo, De Rossi, Gattuso, Toni, Perrotta, Cassano.

Subs: Amelia, De Sanctis, Gamberini, Barzagli, Del Piero, Di Natale, Borriello, Ambrosini, Quagliarella, Camoranesi, Aquilani, Materazzi.

Referee: Lubos Michel (Slovakia)