Italy coach Antonio Conte is counting on Andrea Pirlo to ensure his side move a step closer to Euro 2016 by beating Malta on Thursday night.
Pirlo may have moved out of the European spotlight since his move to New York City FC this summer, but he continues to be a player Conte knows he can count on blindly. He does not need to follow his progress in Major League Soccer to know that the 36-year-old will be in his side -- he just needs to know that he is fit and motivated.
The midfielder has proven that he is in good shape, and Conte is therefore counting on him in Florence.
"For as long as Andrea still has this enthusiasm, this desire to represent his country and this determination to put in the effort and be an example, then he is always going to have the possibility to be a key player for us," Conte said at a news conference.
His place alongside Marco Verratti can therefore be taken for granted with Conte suggesting that the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder can learn a great deal from playing alongside Il Maestro.
"Marco's getting better and better," Conte continued. "He's becoming a complete player -- one who retrieves balls, gives intensity to the game. He's maturing. And I don't see him just in front of the defence either -- for me, his ideal position is right in the middle of the midfield."
Ideally, he will help earn Italy three points which would put the Squadra Azzurra in a position to book their ticket to France next summer when they host Bulgaria in Palermo on Sunday.
"We've got to play to win because these are three crucial points for qualification," said Conte, whose side struggled on the small Mediterranean island last October with a Graziano Pelle strike enough to see them edge their hosts 1-0. "For qualification and for the continuation of our journey, these are three precious points."
Italy are currently two points behind group leaders Croatia, who travel to Azerbaijan on Thursday. Third-placed Norway are two points behind and a defeat for them at Bulgaria combined with an Italy win would give Conte's men the chance to clinch qualification with two games to spare.