Liechtenstein V Italy
Tuesday 15 October 2019 – 19:45 Kick-Off
UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifying
Pick: Italy & Under 4.5 Goals
Odds: 20/23
Bookmaker: Ladbrokes
 |
1 | X | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100/1 | 15/1 | 1/100 |
* (All betting odds displayed were correct as of 13 October 2019 at 11:25)
Preview: Already assured of their place at next summer’s tournament, Italy will look to continue their perfect Euro 2020 Qualifying campaign when they make their way to Liechtenstein to face an opponent they comprehensively beat 6-0 earlier in the group. Is it a case of how many will the Italians score or can Liechtenstein make a better fist of competing now on home soil, inside their Rheinpark Stadion in Vaduz?
Euro 2020 Qualifying Betting – 22Bet
Liechtenstein Preview – Can minnows make it three unbeaten?
Results in Group J: Greece 0-2 (H), Italy 6-0 (A), Armenia 3-0 (A), Finland 0-2 (H), Bosnia 5-0 (A), Greece 1-1 (A), Armenia 1-1 (H)
Another predictably tough qualifying campaign for Liechtenstein (6th – W0 D2 L5, GF2 GA20), who have once again been unable to defy their lowly ranking of 182 and currently occupy last place in this group. This is despite a small resurgence of late, with draws – in Greece and at home to Armenia – in their previous two qualifiers ensuring they at least avoided the ignominy of concluding the campaign without a point.
Remarkably, those successive draws are the first time since early 2011 that the country has gone more than one game without managing to lose. It also means goals have proved more valuable than most. Having scored only two goals in this entire campaign: both were late in the game, would level the scoring, and earn them a draw. Though there was an air of good fortune regarding both outcomes, with their opponents dominant but guilty of wasteful productivity in front of goal.
I couldn’t even find a period where Liechtenstein managed three games without losing, which is exactly what they are trying to achieve here. So this is an important fixture for them, personally. Unfortunately, it happens to be against a team that inflicted their heaviest margin of defeat on them earlier in the campaign, when losing 6-0 in Italy back in March. Furthermore, in three previous meetings Liechtenstein have never even come close to a positive result, losing 4-0, 5-0 and 6-0.
Italy Preview – Azzurri to maintain flawless campaign?
Results in Group J: Finland 2-0 (H), Liechtenstein 6-0 (H), Greece 0-3 (A), Bosnia 2-1 (H), Armenia 1-3 (A), Finland 1-2 (A), Greece 2-0 (H)
With the minimal of fuss, Italy (W7 D0 L0, GF20 GA3) booked their place at the 2020 European Championships after a flawless campaign up until now comprising of seven straight victories. Four were without so much as conceding goal, which is no mean feat when considering how they managed to score at least twice in every qualifier. Their displays have almost been a throwback to the ruthless and efficient Azzurri of old.
It seems inevitable that head coach Roberto Mancini will now utilise these final few qualifiers to experiment a little with personnel and such. There are unlikely to be wholesale changes, however, nor can we expect much complacency to creep in anytime soon from a side seeking to protect and extend an impressive eight game winning streak – the last occasion they were not victorious was against European champions Portugal (0-0 in Milan at the end of 2018).
Other than maintaining their fine recent form, however, there is very little else at stake, with the Italians guaranteed to finish as group winners. Away from home, Mancini’s men have looked slightly more forgiving as well, scoring less goals (8 of 20) and conceding on two separate occasions. Greece were thrashed 3-0 in their very first outing, but Armenia would take an early lead before eventually succumbing to a 3-1 loss while Finland briefly drew level before conceding late and losing 2-1.
Liechtenstein V Italy Key Facts:
- Liechtenstein have drawn their previous two matches, both Euro 2020 Qualifiers, which is their longest unbeaten run for more than eight years.
- Italy have already qualified from this group after winning all seven qualifiers.
- All three previous meetings would finish with Italy winning and not conceding.
Betting Summary
Stringing together two matches without losing is uncharted territory for Liechtenstein, while a third is not only unheard of but unthinkable considering their next opponents – a resurgent Italy who have never even conceded a goal in their three previous meetings (W3). The former will, however, have grown in confidence on the back of recent draws – scoring draws no less – with Greece and Armenia.
Qualification for Italy has already been wrapped up. The only thing left to play for will be finishing the campaign with a perfect record, having won all seven qualifiers thus far. Four of those were without conceding, which could be one method of supporting them here, although they have shipped precisely one goal in each of their last two away qualifiers.
The earlier meeting in this group produced a resounding 6-0 win for the Italians, but with the important matter of qualifying already secured as well as the possibility of there being a few tweaks to the line-up, there may not be the same level of urgency and desire to score as many second time around. Besides, Liechtenstein have not shipped more than two goals in their last eight home games and should be buoyed by their own recent mini-resurgence.
