England-Italy is a match on the eighth day of Group C of Euro 2024 qualifiers and is played Tuesday at 8:45 p.m.: TV, lineups, predictions.
Italy returns to tread the “hallowed turf” of Wembley just over two years after one of the most memorable feats in its history: winning the European Championship against the English hosts, beaten on penalties.
A lot has happened since that day, however, such as the Azzurri’s failure to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar 2022, a flop that somewhat helped tarnish that incredible triumph. Today the national team’s technical commissioner is no longer Roberto Mancini, who resigned last August, but Luciano Spalletti. The former Napoli coach has the task of ferrying Italy to the German European Championship, where the title won in 2021 will have to be defended. The path to Germany, however, has proved more complicated than expected, mainly because of the debut defeat to England – the Three Lions’ national team took revenge last March in Naples, in a game that was less balanced than the final result (1-2) said – and the draw with North Macedonia (1-1) last September.
While Gareth Southgate’s men, first alone on 13 points, need only a draw to qualify, Italy will play for second place with Ukraine.
Maddison
The current standings see the Azzurri and Ukrainians tied on points (10) but Italy has one game less than Rebrov’s men. And the goal is to arrive at November’s direct clash in Leverkusen with a substantial lead. Spalletti meanwhile scored his second success as coach on Saturday in the match against Malta, which was swept away 4-0 in Bari despite a heavy atmosphere over the betting scandal involving Tonali and Zaniolo. England, on the other hand, fresh from their friendly against Australia, folded 1-0 thanks to a goal by Watkins. Southgate will field the best possible lineup: the only notable absence is that of Saka. Spalletti changes from the match with Malta: from 1′ we will see Scamacca, Frattesi and Di Lorenzo.
The Prediction
Since the European Championship final Italy and England have faced each other three more times: the balance so far smiles on the Azzurri, whose only defeat came in March. Spalletti called it the first real exam, and it would not hurt to come back with at least a point in their pockets in view of direct qualification (the Azzurri are already certain to play the play-offs). Stopping the English attack, which can count on a Bellingham in great form, however, will be really complicated: we assume an English victory and at least two goals overall. Italy, however, will also likely manage to score on at least one occasion.
England-Italy likely lineups
- INGHILTERRA (4-2-3-1): Ramsdale; Walker, Stones, Colwill, Trippier; Henderson, Rice; Maddison, Bellingham, Grealish; Kane.
- ITALY (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Mancini, Bastoni, Dimarco; Barella, Locatelli, Frattesi; Berardi, Scamacca, Raspadori.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1
