England v Italy
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Date: Tuesday 17th October 2023
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Competition: Euro 2024 Qualifying
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Kick off: 19:45
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Watch live: Channel 4
The Euro 2020 finalists reunite under the Wembley arch as England take on Italy in a huge clash in Group C. A victory for England in this match would practically guarantee their qualification for Euro 2024 in Germany and secure top spot in the group, thanks to their impressive goal difference. This would leave the Italians with everything to play for in their upcoming match against Ukraine, who are currently tied with Italy on ten points.
The Three Lions struggled to pose any real threat against Australia on Friday night, enduring a few scares themselves on the night. Typical of any lacklustre England performance, Gareth Southgate’s team selection and style drew criticism, though they still secured a 1-0 win via an Ollie Watkins close-range finish. They are currently on a remarkable 12-game winning streak in Euro qualifiers at home, with ten clean sheets coming in that run. They aim to claim the top spot in the group with the return of their strongest lineup for arguably their toughest remaining Euro 2024 qualifier.
Italy, eager to once again burst the English bubble, had boasted a five-match unbeaten streak against England until last March when the Three Lions claimed victory in Naples. Italy recently defeated Malta 4-0 with a rotated attacking lineup due to injuries but drew 1-1 against North Macedonia a few weeks ago, leading them to second place in the group. With a wealth of star quality at their disposal, this promises to be an exciting match.
If you fancy a full breakdown of bet builder stats, head over to the Opta-powered Bet Builder Stats section of our website. We’ll have bet builder data and stats for all Euro 2024 qualifying matches throughout the international break, including England v Italy.
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England v Italy Cheat Sheet
The England v Italy Cheat Sheet is an amazing tool for crafting bet builders crammed with value. What is a cheat sheet you ask?
Cheat Sheets are a collection of all the statistics you need for your bet builder selections. They break down key statistics for both sides, such as how many corners a team takes and concedes, how many shots they get away, how many cards they pick up and everything in between – perfect for international clashes. All the information across different leagues all in one place.
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Without further ado, let’s get stuck into the breakdown.
The Three Lions eyeing up revenge
England are enjoying lots of success in these Euro qualifiers with four wins and one draw in the group so far. While their recent 1-0 win over Australia might not have been a dazzling performance, it’s clear that both the players and Gareth Southgate, along with the fans, had their sights set on this upcoming game.
With key players rested, England are poised to make a fresh and impactful statement as they near the conclusion of the Euro qualifiers. The desire for revenge against Italy lingers among the fans after England’s heartbreaking loss to the Azzurri in the Euro final at Wembley.
The emergence of Jude Bellingham, who has been in excellent form at Real Madrid, brings a positive outlook to the England squad, potentially fuelling a strong performance in this match. The return of star players like Harry Kane, Declan Rice, and Marcus Rashford is sure to strike fear into the Italian side, which has distanced itself from its golden days.
A disturbance in the force for Italy
There’s been some disturbance in the Italian camp in recent days which saw Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo withdrawn from the squad. Two big losses from the Italian midfield with both players showing great form in the Premier League this year. Their absence is partnered with talisman Federico Chiesa who has been out with an injury but could be making a return soon. Ciro Immobile is also absent from the squad meaning the attacking options for the Azzurri are somewhat thin.
Luciano Spalletti has another cause for concern – his team’s declining defensive performance. Italy have long been known for having one of the best defences on the international stage, but since their victory in the 2021 Euros, they’ve been a far cry from their former formidable selves.
In the past year, Italy have managed to shut out their opponents in only two out of nine matches, achieving clean sheets only in both of their Group C encounters with Malta, a team that has scored just one goal in their six Euro qualifiers. This defensive vulnerability doesn’t bode well as they head to Wembley to face England, a team that has shown a strong appetite for scoring goals in recent months.
🎯 England offensive stats: Marksman Kane ready for duty
Scoring a very healthy ten goals over their last three home games in this qualifying campaign, coming from a variety of players, England are enjoying their time in front of goal.
Harry Kane is the obvious goalscoring threat and often when England need a goal, he provide it. The Three Lions captain secured his place as England’s record goalscorer in the reverse fixture in March, and since has netted five goals to add to his international tally. He was rested on Friday against the Socceroos and he’ll be on penalty duty, looking to replicate his effort from 12 yards when these sides last met. Kane is priced at 2.10 to score anytime but alternatively, a safer angle to have two shots on target at 1.91 should be considered.
Jude Bellingham should return to the side for this clash and he could be the most dangerous man on the pitch. With ten goals in ten matches, whilst also contributing three assists across all competitions, he is the real deal right now, flexing 1.34 goal contributions per 90 minutes in La Liga. The La Liga’s top goalscorer averages 2.80 shots per 90 minutes with an impressive 2.00 of those shots hitting the target. For our punters, Bellingham to score or assist is priced at 2.63 and could prove a strong selection, with a safer angle of 1.57 to have one shot on target.
🎯 Italy offensive stats: Will injury problems plague the Azzurri frontline?
Italy’s attacking force has been suffering with injuries of late, with Ciro Immobile and Mateo Retegui ruled out for tonight’s encounter. Italy have scored seven goals over their last four away fixtures which is a promising stat to bring into this fixture.
After his magnificent display against Malta, Domenico Beradi will be hoping to continue his form on the right wing. Currently Sassuolo’s top goalscorer with five goals in six games, his success has managed to spread over from domestic football to international stages. He harbours a very strong 52.9% shot accuracy rate this year and averages 2.88 shots per 90 minutes with 1.53 shots hitting the target. His price of 1.53 to have two efforts at goal seems strong.
Moise Kean may get his opportunity to shine in this match due to injuries, it would be only his 14th appearance for the Azzurri and he has netted four times for his country in the past. The Juventus star has had limited playing time for his club this year, totalling just 182 minutes across five games. However, he has consistently shown his intent, ranking third in expected goals (xG) per 90 with 0.43 and registering 2.47 shots per 90 minutes. This makes him a potential threat to watch out for against England.
🛑 England defensive stats: Rice, Rice, baby!
Both teams like to see the majority of possession with midfields that are brimming with talent. There are plenty of exciting 1 v 1 battles to be set up.
Declan Rice could prove the key in this and is likely to be amidst all of the action, which could see a slip-up come about as he fights for the ball in tight areas. He is priced at 1.44 to make one foul on the night.
England’s defensive lineup is often difficult to predict even with a full-strength squad being available and rested. So if you’re making any selections relating to these markets, we’d suggest you wait until the lineups are confirmed, and then utilise our amazing Cheat Sheet to make those selections.
🛑 Italy Defensive Stats: Inter Milan duo to cause trouble
The Italian defensive fortress is starting to show some cracks in its walls and no doubt the loss of some Azzurri legends has contributed to that.
Nicolo Barella is a strong candidate for fouls in this fixture. Priced strongly at 1.5 to commit one or more fouls, the Inter Milan star has averaged 1.30 fouls per game throughout this qualification campaign, a slight increase from his 0.63 club average. With plenty of serious quality in the England midfield on Tuesday at least one offence is likely, a strong selection for a bet builder.
Staying with Inter Milan, another keen fouler is centre-back Alessandro Bastoni, who has picked up two yellows in his seven league appearances this season. Committing an average of 1.27 fouls per 90 and a surprisingly high average, for a defender, of 1.59 fouls drawn per match, it’s clear that Bastoni will be in the thick of the action. The return of a full-strength English attack could draw some more of these situations and eventual fouls. He is priced at 1.5 to commit one or more fouls.
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