The Azzurri stamped their pass for Brazil last month, having wrapped up Group B with two games to spare. However, the playoff spot is still very much up for grabs.
Bulgaria (13) are one point better off than the Danes, who in turn, are three points ahead of the Czech Republic and Armenia. That picture will become a lot clearer after this current round of games, with Denmark needing at least a point to stay in realistic contention. Eight of the nine second-placed sides will compete in the playoffs. The team that finishes second with the lowest number of points scored will miss out completely.
After a stuttering start to their campaign, Denmark come into this game on the back of consecutive victories over Malta and Armenia. However, none of their three qualifying victories in this campaign have come at home. A shock 4-0 loss to Armenia back in June highlights the unpredictability of the Danes on Scandinavian soil.
Italy, meanwhile, have already secured their spot in Brazil having won six of their eight Group B matches, remaining unbeaten in the process and amassing 20 points.
The Azzurri also enter the contest on the back of two successive wins over Czech Republic and Bulgaria and will take confidence from the last time they faced Denmark – a 3-1 win in the corresponding match in October 2012.
Denmark will once again be led by Liverpool defender Daniel Agger, while Tottenham Hotspur's Christian Eriksen and Arsenal's Nicklas Bendtner are also familiar names in their squad.
Highly-rated Ajax attacker Viktor Fischer is also expected to start against the Italians, while 22-year-old Thomas Delaney could win his first cap for his country.
Denmark vs Italy October 11, 2013
Match date/time: Friday, 8:15 p.m. local, 2:15 p.m. ETVenue: Parken, Copenhagen, Denmark
