Team News: Graziano Pelle leads Italy line against Croatia

Graziano Pelle will make just his third start for Italy in tonight's top-of-the-table Group H Euro 2016 qualifier against Croatia.

The Southampton striker leads the line for the Azzurri in Split, while Antonio Conte has been forced into a number of other changes elsewhere.

This is Italy's first game since the 1-1 friendly draw with England in March and Gianluigi Buffon, Leonardo Bonucci, Matteo Darmian, Marco Parolo and Pelle are the only players still present in the starting lineup from that day.

As for Croatia, they are without superstar playmaker Luka Modric, who has been replaced in midfield by Mateo Kovacic.

Vedran Corluka was sent off in their last qualifier against Norway and his place is taken by Gordon Schildenfeld.

Italy are seven games without a win against Croatia - a run stretching back to their first meeting in 1942.

Croatia: Subasic; Srna, Schildenfeld, Vida, Pranjic; Perisic, Rakitic, Brozovic, Kovacic; Olic, Mandzukic

Italy: Buffon; Darmian, Astori, Bonucci, De Silvestri; Marchisio, Pirlo, Parolo; Candreva, El Shaarawy; Pelle