Bari’s Stadio San Nicola will host a season-opening friendly between Italy and France on the 1st September. It will be Giampiero Ventura’s first match in the dugout for the Azzurri after he replaces Antonio Conte.

The match comes four days before Italy’s first game in World Cup qualifying against Israel in Haifa on the 5th September.

The Azzurri will be back in Bari exactly two years after their last appearance in the city when they overcame Holland 2-0 in a friendly on the 4th September 2014. Italy and France have previously met 37 times resulting in 18 Italian wins, 10 draws and 9 French wins.