Parma (Italy), Nov 15 (IANS): Italy head coach Cesare Prandelli insists his side did not deserve to lose 1-2 to France in a football friendly played here.

Prandelli used a 4-3-3 format for the first time, with Stephan El Shaarawy, Mario Balotelli and Antonio Candreva up front, while Marco Verratti got his first senior start and Alessandro Florenzi his debut Wednesday, reports Xinhua.

In-form AC Milan striker Stephan El Shaarawi gave the hosts a first-half lead, and Mathieu Valbuena equalized for France almost immediately and then substitute Bafetimbi Gomis struck a second-half winner.

"We didn't deserve to lose this match, but it was right to experiment and we will experiment again. We need to be ready for the tournament and that means using these games to test things out," Prandelli said.

"We did some good things, it was the first time we were trying the 4-3-3, so some movements were not going to be solid."

He also promised to give Verratti more chances in the future.

"If I had a few more friendlies and training sessions then we could see Andrea Pirlo and Verratti together, but for the moment we have to focus on qualifying,"