Italy are back on top of their Euro2016 qualifying group courtesy of a tight win over Malta on Thursday night.
The Azzurri edged the European minnows in Florence thanks to Graziano Pelle's second-half goal which sees Antonio Conte's men on top of Group H by a point to Croatia, who were held to a 0-0 draw by Azerbaijan in Baku.
The only goal of the contest came in the 69th minute when Italy finally managed to break Malta's resistance. Malta keeper Andrew Hogg was unable to deal with Antonio Candreva's cross which allowed Pelle to score from close range.
Italy will now prepare to host fourth-placed Bulgaria in Palermo on Sunday as they continue to edge towards France next summer.
Delight for @NFF_info, relief for @azzurri and @GPelle19#EURO2016pic.twitter.com/vgWYTpeZiD
— UEFA EURO 2016 (@UEFAEURO) September 3, 2015