Published on 12:00 AM, May 31, 2016

Pelle fires Azzurri

Italy's Graziano Pelle (C) fights for the ball with Scotland's Russell Martin (R) during the International friendly football match. Photo: AFP

Southampton striker Graziano Pelle hit a second-half winner as an injury-depleted Italy beat Scotland 1-0 in a disjointed Euro 2016 friendly in Malta on Sunday.

With his midfield decimated through injuries to Claudio Marchisio and Marco Verratti, and Thiago Motta and Riccardo Montolivo resting due to calf problems, Italy coach Antonio Conte gave Roma's Daniele De Rossi a chance to impress before announcing his 23-man Euro 2016 squad on Tuesday.

Inter Milan striker Eder was in a similar position, having failed to spark for the Nerazzurri following his move from Sampdoria.

Thankfully for both, Eder and De Rossi were involved when Pelle pounced to beat David Marshall in the 57th minute with a clinical strike from the edge of the area.