Italy manager Antonio Conte says Scotland's physical nature will provide his side with the perfect test ahead of Euro 2016.

The Azzurri meet Gordon Strachan's team on Sunday at Malta's Ta' Qali National Stadium with Lee Wallace, Chris Martin and Alan Hutton all pulling out of the squad.

Italy will take on Belgium, Sweden and the Republic of Ireland in Group E of the European Championships in June.

Italian head coach Conte likened Scotland's style of play to the Martin O'Neill's team, saying: "We opted for Scotland because they have a physical style similar to Ireland, while Finland are more like Sweden.

"We chose them to see what kind of games await us."

Conte has named a 30-man squad which has to be reduced to a final selection of 23 by the end of May and he brushed off criticism over leaving Andrea Pirlo, Mario Balotelli and Sebastian Giovinco at home.

The future Chelsea boss said: "I spoke to Andrea, I needed to hear from him and we sent people to the US," Conte explained in a Press conference at Coverciano today.

"However, we've made other choices and you have to accept them and deal with the consequences. Nothing was left to chance.

"We evaluated him and Giovinco, it's normal that if you choose to go and play there then you can pay the consequences in footballing terms.

"We evaluated them technically, we didn't leave anything to chance. Anyone who thinks otherwise is wrong, we went everywhere to have clear and precise ideas.

"I picked the 30 who I think will give me the most guarantees."

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Federico Marchetti (Lazio), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint Germain);

Defenders: Davide Astori (Fiorentina), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Angelo Obinze Ogbonna (West Ham), Daniele Rugani (Juventus); Wingers: Federico Bernardeschi (Fiorentina), Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Matteo Darmian (Manchester United), Mattia De Sciglio (Milan), Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma), Davide Zappacosta (Torino);

Midfielders: Marco Benassi (Torino), Giacomo Bonaventura (Milan), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Emanuele Giaccherini (Bologna), Jorge Luiz Jorginho (Napoli), Riccardo Montolivo (Milan), Thiago Motta (Paris Saint Germain), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Stefano Sturaro (Juventus);

Forwards: Citadin Martins Eder (Inter), Ciro Immobile (Torino), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Graziano Pellè (Southampton), Simone Zaza (Juventus).