The England national team will face the Italian national team in a Euro 2024 qualifying tournament match on October 17 at 19:45 UK time. Both teams have had a good run in the qualifiers, but this match is crucial for their Euro 2024 options.
England
England is currently leading their Euro 2024 qualifying group with 13 points, and their performance in the qualifiers has been impressive. They have one of the most reliable defences among all the national teams, conceding only 2 goals in their five matches. Only France, with 1 goal conceded, has a better defensive record.
In addition to their solid defence, England has been prolific in front of the goal, scoring 16 goals in the qualifiers. They secured a dominant 7-0 victory against North Macedonia and a 4-0 win against Malta. However, it’s important to note that these teams are considered outsiders in the group.
England’s performance has been less dominant in matches against stronger opponents like Ukraine and Italy. They drew 1-1 in their game against Ukraine, where they failed to capitalize on their chances. While England has been formidable against weaker teams, they face a tougher challenge against more vigorous opponents.
The upcoming match against Italy will be crucial for England’s qualification hopes. A win in this match would secure their place in the main stage of the European Championship, but it won’t be an easy task.
Italy
The Italian national team is also performing well in the Euro 2024 qualification. Still, they face the risk of not securing a spot in the tournament due to the intense competition, particularly from the Ukraine national team, who are closely trailing them in the group. The upcoming match against England will not be enough to eliminate the intrigue, but Italy needs to secure points to enhance their chances.
Italy has suffered just one defeat against England in their five qualification matches, with a final score of 1-2. Despite being 0-2 down at halftime, Italy showed resilience and mounted a comeback effort in the second half, reducing the deficit but falling short of an equalizer.
The fact that Italy performed strongly in the second half of their match against England suggests that they are capable of giving a tough fight to their opponents. Italy currently occupies the second position in their group, with the same number of points as Ukraine, with 10 points and a game in hand. The situation is within the control of Luciano Spalletti’s team, and they must maintain their form and composure to secure their place in Euro 2024.
England vs Italy: Prediction and odds
The odds favour the hosts. Given that both teams are highly motivated to achieve an advantageous result, and considering the importance of points in this crucial stage of the qualification, it’s likely that the match will feature a cautious and closed style of football with a minimum number of goals.
For those interested in betting, you can consider placing bets on the total number of goals in the first half, with an option of 0.5 goals or less, which has odds of 2.45. Another betting prediction is that only one team will score in the second half, with an odds of 1.80.
