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Saturday sees England play host to Italy in a UEFA Nations League clash at Wolverhampton’s Molineaux Stadium.
England are looking for their first win in the current UEFA Nations League campaign, while Italy will be hoping to follow their 2-1 win over Hungary with another victory here.
Which one of these European giants will come out on top in what could prove to be a key game this weekend?
England vs Italy Head-to-Head
After flying through their qualifying group for the 2022 World Cup, England have gotten off to a patchy start in their UEFA Nations League campaign, losing to Hungary in Budapest last weekend before needing a late Harry Kane goal to secure a point in Germany.
Essentially, those two results have left them needing a victory here to give them any hopes of reaching the UEFA Nations League finals in the summer of 2023, but given their recent record against Italy – which includes a defeat in the final of Euro 2020 – it won’t be easy.
When they’re at their best, though – as they were in matches such as their 0-10 win over San Marino and their 3-0 win over Cote D’Ivoire – Gareth Southgate’s side are capable of brilliance and can win this game.
Italy, on the other hand, are still smarting from their loss to North Macedonia – a defeat that meant that they will not be in Qatar for the 2022 World Cup. Considering the loss came only a year after they won Euro 2020, it was even more disastrous.
Since then, Italy have played four games, defeating Turkey in a friendly and losing to Argentina in the Finalissima before drawing with Germany and defeating Hungary in their current UEFA Nations League campaign.
One thing that will be different from the last time these sides met will be the distinct lack of crowd atmosphere. Due to the behaviour of England’s fans in the final of Euro 2020, Saturday’s game will be played behind closed doors.
England form guide: W-W-W-L-D
Italy form guide: D-L-W-D-W
England vs Italy Team News
England
James Justin has been ruled out due to an injury, while Kalvin Phillips and Fikayo Tomori are both doubtful. Phil Foden is also expected to miss out on this game.
Injured: James Justin, Phil Foden
Doubtful: Fikayo Tomori, Kalvin Phillips
Suspended: None
Italy
Roberto Mancini has a number of players ruled out for this game due to injuries, while longtime stalwart Giorgio Chiellini is now retired. Andrea Belotti and Leonardo Bonucci have been released from the squad and will not play against either England or Germany.
Injured: Domenico Beradi, Moise Kean, Mattia Zaccagni, Nicolo Zaniolo, Andrea Pinamonti, Cristiano Biraghi, Enrico Chiesa
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Unavailable: Andrea Belotti, Leonardo Bonucci
England vs Italy Predicted XI
England predicted XI (4-3-3): Jordan Pickford, Reece James, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Kieran Trippier, Conor Gallagher, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Jarrod Bowen, Harry Kane, Jack Grealish
Italy predicted XI (4-3-3): Gianluigi Donnarumma, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni, Leonardo Spinazzola, Nicolo Barella, Sandro Tonali, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Matteo Politano, Wilfried Gnonto, Giacomo Raspadori
England vs Italy Prediction
This one is a hard game to pick given Italy’s struggles in recent matches and England’s own patchy form in the current UEFA Nations League campaign.
England will probably come into this one desperate for some semblance of revenge for their defeat in the final of Euro 2020, but whether they’re capable of achieving that given how tired they looked against Hungary and Germany is another thing entirely.
However, if Gareth Southgate releases the handbrake a little, his side are more than capable of scoring goals, meaning that the prediction is a very tight win for England.
Prediction: England 1-0 Italy
