Well, the one positive for Scotland is that they are still in the game. David Marshall has also impressed with a good double save but no one else has been on the ball long enough to catch the eye. 

What can Gordon Strachan do to change the pattern of the game?

Best chance of the half. With seven minutes on the clock, Scotland's David Marshall reacted brilliantly to stop a long-range Antonio Candreva piledriver, then block Emanuele Giaccherini's follow-up effort.

Great stuff from the big Cardiff goalie.

Image source, SNS

The first 45 minutes are over and it's been one-way traffic, with Italy making all of the running. However, the Azzurri have not found a way past David Marshall.

Italy lead 13-0 on shots on goal but only one stat counts, right?

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland in Malta

"Quite how this remains goalless is beyond me. Italy have been vastly superior and really only some wayward finishing and a couple of good David Marshall saves are keeping Scotland in the game."

Eder runs between Grant Hanley and Charlie Mulgrew to meet a neat lay-off from Graziano Pelle and takes a tumble. He looks close to tears when the Maltese referee shakes his head and replays show the Inter striker is lucky not to get booked for diving...

JD, Glasgow: "Scotland have been the warm-up team since '98. Scotland are NOT going to Russia. Strachan Out!" 

Anonymous: "Anya at left back. Are we that desperate?"

James is being a bit harsh on Italy there, don't you think? There's only one team doing any attacking and it ain't the boys in pink... Ross McCormack is totally isolated up front for Scotland.

Roma midfielder Alessandro Florenzi has a pop and his shot from 22 yards flashes narrowly wide, with David Marshall at full-stretch.

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland in Malta

"Gordon Strachan has changed to an unfamiliar formation to try to get more of a foothold in this match. He's moved Charlie Mulgrew in to form a back-three with Russell Martin and Grant Hanley. Ikechi Anya is now playing as a left wing-back, with Callum Paterson on the other side.

"A bumpy pitch isn't doing either side any favours and the atmosphere inside this wide open stadium is close to non-existent."

Is that a first touch from open play for Gianluigi Buffon as he nips off his line to kick clear and prevent a corner? The goalkeeping legend has not been overly worked on the night of his 157th cap.

Italy should be ahead as Bologna midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini runs on to a fabulous dinked ball over the top from Daniele De Rossi but he can only stab it wide with the outside of his boot from eight yards or so. 

Lazio wing-back Antonio Candreva is in the thick of it again, this time lashing a shot high and wide after a corner kick is cleared his way by Grant Hanley.

The Scots are wobbling a bit now as the busy Antonio Candreva lumps a deep cross in from the right and it loops over stretching goalkeeper David Marshall, with Callum Paterson knocking it out for a corner at the back stick.

Scotland escape twice as the ball strikes the hand of Grant Hanley in the box and falls to Emanuele Giaccherini, who can only blaze a shot over from a great position.

Matt Ritchie takes a painful barge in the back from Giorgio Chiellini as he attempts to gather the ball on his chest. Tame stuff by the Juventus defender's high standards of skulduggery.

A long ball over the top finds Ross McCormack, in an offside position, and the Scotland striker scuffs a first-time effort wide. That might have been his first touch.

Italy have the ball back and they are in no hurry to give it up again as both sides catch a breath on a warm evening.

Scotland finally string a few passes together but they are not going anywhere as Italy work hard to keep Gordon Strachan's men in their own half of the pitch.

Antonio Candreva thumps in a low, skidding effort and David Marshall sprawls to keep it out. Emanuele Giaccherini is on to the loose ball right in front of goal but the Cardiff keeper is able to make a marvellous second stop.