Northern Ireland played Italy in a friendly in June 2003

Pisa has been chosen as the venue for Northern Ireland's friendly against Italy on 6 June.

The match will raise money to help the victims of the earthquake in L'Aquila in April which left nearly 300 people dead and 17,000 homeless.

NI manager Nigel Worthington already knows he will be without most of his senior squad for the match.

Only seven of his regular panel will be available because the other first-choice players will be on holidays.

It is believed David Healy and Warren Feeney are two high profile players who will be making the trip to Italy.

Veteran Italy and AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini, who turns 41 in June, is expected to play some part in the Pisa friendly as he is retiring from all football this summer.

Northern Ireland's last match against Italy was in June 2003 in Campobasso.

That match, which Italy won 2-0, was also staged to raise funds for victims of an earthquake.

Worthington will be at Northern Ireland's 'B' international on Wednesday in Scotland when young players will have a chance to impress and possibly book a place on the plane to Italy.

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