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International news: Italy set to face Albania in friendly

Image: Antonio Conte: His Italy side are set to take on Albania in an international friendly

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has announced plans for Genoa to host an international friendly between Italy and Albania next month.

The north-west port city has been besieged by heavy flooding in recent days and the FIGC has responded by announcing proposals for the November 18 friendly to be staged at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, rather than Parma's Stadio Ennio Tardini as originally planned.

The Stadio Luigi Ferraris is home to Serie A sides Genoa and Sampdoria and the FIGC revealed the switch would only be given the go-ahead once their presidents Enrico Preziosi and Massimo Ferrero - as well as Parma president Tommaso Ghirardi - had given their blessing.

The federation decided to act after the flooding claimed the life of one man, caused 200million euro worth of damage and left many streets buried in mud and debris.

"Football must always be sensitive in the face of tragedies which hurt the entire country," FIGC president Carlo Tavecchio said in a statement published on the federation's website.

"We are aware of the social role that we have, and that's why we make this offer, as a tool for reconstruction and the first stage of returning to normality, through a concrete contribution and the support that the Azzurri and the entire football world will give the people of Liguria."

The match comes just two days after Italy are scheduled to play Croatia in a Euro 2016 qualifier at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

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