Italy welcomes England in the first qualifiers game for the Euro 2024 to start their journey of defending the crown which they won against the same opponents two years ago.
ITA vs ENG Match Details
Date: Thursday, 23 March 2023 / Friday, 24 March 2023
Time: 20:45 (CET) / 01:15 (IST)
Venue: Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Naples
ITA vs ENG Match Preview
Italy
While England reached the quarterfinal of the 2022 World Cup, Italy were left with the thoughts of missing the showpiece for the second consecutive time. It might have hurt more considering the team won the European Championship only a year ago in 2021 before getting knocked out by an ambitious North Macedonia in the qualifiers for the tournament in Qatar. The Azzurri will at least try to defend the Euros to cope up with that downfall and their qualifiers start against none other than the finalist England. They beat the Three Lions in last year’s Nations League as well on the course of booking their spot in the semifinals of the competition for back-to-back seasons. Roberto Mancini’s side will understandably be confident on Thursday for their record against England and winning their last 14 Euro qualifying games. Even more remarkable is they haven’t lost a single match in the qualifiers since all the way back in 2006. Also, it has been 24 years since the reigning continental champions last lost a Euros qualifier on home soil. The electric atmosphere in Naples could guide them in gaining the first points on board as well.
England
England are returning to action for the first time since being knocked out by France in Qatar last year in their third attempt to win silverware under Gareth Southgate. Harry Kane ballooned a crucial penalty in the 2-1 loss to leave the Three Lions deserted once again at a World Cup. The manager's job has been kept safe by the FA so far and he will try to finally help the Three Lions to clinch a trophy in the next competition. It comes in the form of the European Championship in 2024 hosted by Germany. Southgate’s men went up to the final at Wembley in the previous edition and even took the lead in the first minute. Leonardo Bonucci, missing this clash, equalized matters in the second half to eventually force penalties that Italy won to lift the trophy. It was the biggest chance England had of lifting their first silverware since the 1966 World Cup in men’s football. Failing on the world stage last year piles up more pressure as they begin the qualifiers for the next major contest. Unable to take revenge in the two games of the Nations League with a draw and a 1-0 loss, England will finally like to take one against the familiar foes in this clash to stun the home support.
Recent Form
ITA: LWWWL
ENG: LWWDW
ITA vs ENG Team News
Both camps had injuries after receiving call-ups with Federico Dimarco and Ivan Provedel withdrawing. They have been replaced by Emerson Palmieri and Marco Carnesecchi. Federico Chiesa also misses out through injury as does Ciro Immobile and Giacomo Raspadori. Carnesecchi is one of the four uncapped players in the squad with Wladimiro Falcone, Alessandro Buongiorno and Mateo Retegui. The latter is an Argentina-born striker who is expected to make his debut for Azzurri in the absence of number nine to lead the line. Captain Leonardo Bonucci is also out with a leg injury.
England lost the trio of Marcus Rashford, Mason Mount and Nick Pope all pulling out with injuries with Fraser Forster only called up to replace the Newcastle goalkeeper. Brentford striker Ivan Toney is included as the only uncapped player despite admitting to breaching betting rules. Raheem Sterling, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Callum Wilson all part of the World Cup squad are left out while Ben White has still not impressed Gareth Southgate.
ITA vs ENG Predicted Lineups
ITA: Gianluigi Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Francesco Acerbi, Alessio Romagnoli, Leonardo Spinazzola; Nicolo Barella, Marco Verratti, Jorginho; Domenico Berardi, Mateo Retegui, Vincenzo Grifo
ENG: Jordan Pickford; Walker, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw; Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham; Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane, Jack Grealish
ITA vs ENG Head to head
ITA won - 13
Draw - 9
ENG won - 8
ITA vs ENG Dream11 Team Prediction
Team 1
GK: Pickford (8)
DEF: James (8), Di Lorenzo (8), Shaw (8.5)
MID: Barella (8.5), Jorginho (8), Rice (8), Bellingham (8)
FW: Saka (8.5), Kane (9), Berardi (8)
Vice-captain: Bukayo Saka
Captain: Harry Kane
Team 2
GK: Donnarumma (8)
DEF: James (8), Di Lorenzo (8), Shaw (8.5)
MID: Barella (8.5), Jorginho (8), Rice (8), Bellingham (8)
FW: Saka (8.5), Kane (9), Berardi (8)
Vice-captain: Bukayo Saka
Captain: Harry Kane
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