EURO 2024 QUALIFIERS KICK OFF WITH A BANG AS ITALY HOST ENGLAND. PREDICTION

With the international break upon us, the EURO 2024 Qualifiers kick off and Italy host England in a nail-biting Group C clash.

Italy failed to qualify for the 2022 Qatar World Cup and are eager to make amends as they kick start their qualifying campaign.

These teams are no strangers to each other as they famously met in the final of the Euro 2020 final at Wembley, where the Italians won after a penalty shootout.

The pair then landed in the same Nations League group so this will be their fourth meeting in the last two years.

Italy are unbeaten in their last 5 games against England with a 1-0 win in the Nations League before a barren draw in the return leg.

This will be the first match for The Three Lions since they were dumped out of the World Cup by France in the quarter-finals.

England go into the game as favourites after an enviable run in the Qatar World Cup where Italy failed to make the cut for a second consecutive edition.

Italy will be hoping to bounce back after finishing second to Switzerland in their qualifying group and losing out to North Macedonia in the play-off.

Italy’s last game was a friendly match against Austria and they were stunned with a 2-0 defeat.

Who will get their qualifying campaign off to a winning start here? Click here to make your prediction and place a bet on the game.

What time does Italy vs England start?

The game kicks off at 20:45pm CET time at the Armando Diego Maradona Stadium.

Italy vs England team news

Roberto Mancini announced that Federico Chiesa and Federico Dimarco have pulled out of the squad and will play no part in the first two games along with injured Lazio striker Ciro Immobile who has been replaced in the squad by Argentine born Mateo Retegui who is looking to make his maiden appearance for the Azzuri.

West Ham’s Emerson Palmieri has been called up to replace Dimarco and may also find a place in the starting XI.

Jorginho is set to start in a brilliant midfield with Nicolo Barella and Roma’s Lorenzo Pellegrini.

For the visitors, Harry Kane will likely captain the side and lead the attacking line with Bukayo Saka, and Manchester City pair Phil Foden and Jack Grealish both in contention to start.

England have been dealt an injury blow with both Mason Mount and the in form Marcus Rashford being forced to withdraw from the squad, however midfielders Declan Rice, Jordan Henderson and Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham are all named in the squad.

Trent Alexander-Arnold did not make the team and Reece James is set to start on the right with Chelsea team mate Ben Chillwell also fit again after returning from a hamstring injury.

Italy vs England head to head

These sides have played against each other 10 times, with Italy winning 4 times compared to England’s one win.

The majority (5) games have resulted in a draw.

Italy vs England current form

Both teams have won 3 times in their last 5 games but the Italians have lost the other 2 games. England’s defeat to France is their only one in that duration.

Italy vs England prediction

This fixture does not produce goals and this one is expected to be a low-scoring affair as well. However, Italy have home advantage and a better record against England, they are favourites to win.