Italy youth chief Arrigo Sacchi is unimpressed by the young talent breaking into the Azzurri squad.

Sacchi says the likes of AC Milan striker Stephan El Shaarawy and PSG midfielder Marco Verratti are exceptions.

"There is nothing new being born in our game. The fact that Balotelli, El Shaarawy and Verratti are starting tonight against France are abnormal exceptions.

"Unfortunately, the base of the game is very fragmented. When it comes to youth sectors, Italian clubs spend 70 per cent less on them than Spanish clubs do…"