Italy have two match pts for Euro 2016

(ANSA) - Rome, October 8 - Italy have two match points in their final Euro 2016 qualifiers as victory in Saturday's visit to Azerbaijan or in Tuesday's game against Norway in Rome will suffice to see the Azzurri through to next year's finals in France.
    Italy are top of Euro 2016 qualifying Group H with 18 points from eight games, two points more than second-placed Norway and four more than third-placed Croatia, so they are sure of qualifying as group winners if they win both.
    Coach Antonio Conte's preparations have been hit by the loss of forwards Lorenzo Insigne and Domenico Berardi.
    Napoli striker Insigne on Wednesday left Italy's training camp near Florence after picking up a knee knock in Sunday's 4-0 Napoli win over AC Milan at the San Siro, where he scored two goals and set up another.
    Sassuolo's Berardi, a 21-year-old who has yet to win his first cap, left the squad on Monday with a leg-muscle problem.
    AC Milan's Mario Balotelli is also injured, although Conte said this week that he would not have called him up even if he were fit.
    "To return to the national team two games or a free-kick goal are not enough," Conte said referring to a goal the flamboyant forward scored in Milan's 3-2 win over Udinese last month.
    "There is a precise path to follow made up of continuity of games, performance and attitude". Conte added that "mine is a message meant for everyone, not only Mario who besides, from what (Milan coach) Sinisa Mijajlovic tells me, is working well". "All I ask is that he deserve the (Italian) jersey". On the positive side Sebastian Giovinco, who has not played for Italy since a friendly against Albania last year, has returned to the squad.
    The skilful 28-year-old has been in excellent form since joining Toronto from Serie A champions Juventus in January, and his 21 goals have almost ensured his team a place in the MLS playoffs. "I'm happy to have won back a place in the national team," Giovinco told reporters on Thursday.
    "It's a wager that I've won. It was something that I dearly wanted, but it could not be taken for granted". Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) President Carlo Tavecchio, meanwhile, has said that he is ready to extend Conte's contract if the national team does well at Euro 2016.
    "We are ready to extend Conte's contract for another two years," Tavecchio said.
    "Obviously it depends on what he wants and the conditions that are created at the European championships.
    "We are obviously hoping to win Euro 2016".