It’s crunch time in London as England and Italy face off against each other in a mouth-watering UEFA European Championship 2024 qualifier at Wembley Stadium. Let’s look at our match preview for this contest.
England’s qualification for a fourth consecutive European Championship has become a formality. Gareth Southgate’s men are one win away from booking their tickets for next summer’s tournament in Germany. With winnable tasks against Malta and North Macedonia waiting in the wings, beating Italy is not imperative for the Three Lions.
However,’ they’ll be out to complete their vengeance after eking out a 2-1 victory in Naples at the start of the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign. Indeed, the scars of a Euro 2020 final heartbreak at this venue are still fresh. Therefore, a less significant win in a qualifying game hardly makes the sides even.
But since the Italians are in a precarious position going into this fixture, throwing a spanner in the works would probably settle the score. Luciano Spalletti’s men have virtually no room for error down the final stretch if they’re to make amends for missing out on the 2022 FIFA World Cup last year.
In the midst of an illegal betting maelstrom that has been shaking Italian football these past couple of weeks, Gli Azzurri must find a way to rise from the ashes. Domenico Berardi’s brace inspired Italy to a landslide 4-0 home triumph over Mediterranean minnows Malta on Saturday, firing them to second in Group C.
Level on points with third-placed Ukraine, albeit with a game in hand, Spalletti’s lads are still masters of their destiny. But they can’t get too comfortable, given what’s at stake.
Match Preview
England
Southgate’s experimental lineup squeaked past Australia 1-0 in a friendly last Friday as Ollie Watkins’ second-half winner extended the Three Lions’ unbeaten streak to seven matches (W6, D1). Back to the qualifying cycle, where they most recently drew 1-1 against Ukraine, England will be keen to secure qualification with two games to spare.
Despite emerging victorious in the reverse fixture, overcoming Italy on home soil has proved England’s Achilles heel down the years. Since a 2-0 triumph in 1977, they have gone winless in six successive meetings they hosted (D3, L3). And that’s not to mention the last time they beat the Italians in back-to-back matches was in 1949.
Player to Watch: Harry Kane
The former Tottenham Hotspur talisman leads the scoring charts in this group with five goals, one of which came from the spot against Italy in March. Particularly dangerous in the early stages, he tallied four of his five Euro 2024 qualifying strikes before halftime.
Italy
Spalletti has yet to lose since taking charge of the national team in the summer. Following a frustrating 1-1 draw against North Macedonia on his touchline debut, the former Scudetto-winning Napoli boss has overseen consecutive qualifying wins over Ukraine and Malta. But this is a stern test of character for Italy.
Their bid to appear in Germany next summer has taken a couple of steps in the right direction, but this could be a qualification-defining event. Gli Azzurri held England to a goalless draw in last year’s UEFA Nations League encounter in Wolverhampton. Another share of the spoils could seal the deal, provided the Italians stay the course in the final two rounds.
Unfortunately, playing on foreign soil has been problematic for Italy, to say the least. Spalletti’s troops have experienced mixed fortunes across their last five international travels (W2, D1, L2), conceding multiple goals on three occasions.
Player to Watch: Domenico Berardi
After scoring two trademark goals against Malta, the sought-after Sassuolo winger will be under the spotlight at Wembley. He has been in scintillating form this season, racking up five goals in his last five club appearances.
Team News
Besides the injured Bukayo Saka, England boss Southgate won’t have any other injury concerns to deal with this midweek. Jordan Pickford, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, and Harry Kane were rested against Australia last week and will probably return to the starting XI.
As for Italy, Nicolo Zaniolo and Sandro Tonali had pulled out of the Italy squad in the build-up to the Malta clash due to ongoing betting charges. Federico Chiesa and Mattia Zaccagni had initially joined the team but also had to leave earlier due to injuries. It leaves Spalletti with a selection headache coming into this pivotal showdown.
England vs Italy Potential Lineups
England (4-2-3-1): Jordan Pickford; Kyle Walker, John Stones, Lewis Dunk, Kieran Trippier; Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice; Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish; Harry Kane.
Italy (4-3-3): Gianluigi Donnarumma; Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Gianluca Mancini, Alessandro Bastoni, Dimarco; Davide Frattesi, Manuel Locatelli, Nicolo Barella; Domenico Berardi, Giacomo Raspadori, Gianluca Scamacca.
England vs Italy Prediction
It feels like anything except defeat would work for Italy. But the visitors must work their socks off to return home unbeaten. Despite the magnitude of the task at hand, we back them to succeed.
Prediction: Draw
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