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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Wolverine GTR" data-source="post: 22338476" data-attributes="member: 158020">Albania 0 Italy 1: Candreva just ace for Ventura as Azzurri bounce back<img src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/10/09/21/452CC50B00000578-0-image-a-2_1507580671127.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />Italy made sure they will be seeded in the draw for the World Cup play-offs with a hard-fought 1-0 win in Albania on Monday.Antonio Candreva converted Leonardo Spinazzola's cross in the 73rd  minute to score the only goal of the game and ease some of the  pressure on under-fire coach Gian Piero Ventura. While  already certain of finishing second behind Spain in Group G, the  four-time world champions looked in serious danger of suffering  back-to-back draws following Friday's dismal 1-1 result at home against  Macedonia as they struggled to break down their hosts.However,  midfielder Candreva was on hand to smash home the winner and give Italy a  morale-boosting triumph before they play in a two-legged play-off in  November.After his 3-4-3 experiment backfired in Turin last time out, Ventura reverted to his preferred 4-2-4 formation on the road.However, the switch to a more familiar shape failed to spark an  improved attacking display, despite the visitors controlling possession  for long periods.Their only shot on target in the opening half  came about due to an Albanian error, as Frederic Veseli’s air shot gave  Ciro Immobile a sight of goal.The striker, who scored his  country’s second in a 2-0 win in the reverse fixture back in March,  seized on the gift to hammer a left-footed effort that goalkeeper Etrit  Berisha blocked at close range.At the other end, the home side  had to settle for long-range shots that, while speculative, did  occasionally force Gianluigi Buffon into action.The veteran  goalkeeper fumbled a low drive from Elseid Hysaj but was able to claim  the rebound under no pressure, while a dive was required to prevent a  skimming attempt from Eros Grezda squeezing in at his right post.Odise Roshi called Buffon into action in the opening seconds of the  second period, with his rising drive punched away in rather unconvincing  fashion.Spurred on by the early effort, Albania showed greater attacking  intent in the hope of finishing an otherwise disappointing qualifying  campaign on a high.   Italy  nearly capitalised on the counter as the game became stretched, only  for Eder to wastefully blaze over when he had two well-placed team-mates  in support.Grezda was denied by Buffon again just after the hour  mark before Candreva slotted home the decisive goal,  controlling Spinazzola's left-wing delivery at the back post before  lashing the ball high into the Albanian net.Immobile spurned a  late chance when in the clear to double Italy's lead, but one goal  proved enough to deny Albania coach Christian Panucci a positive result  against the country he represented 57 times during his playing career.  For counterpart Ventura, the victory provides some welcome relief after a  difficult few days.</blockquote>

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