England v Italy Betting Preview – International Friendly 27th March
England head back to Wembley on Tuesday after a successful trip to Amsterdam on Friday night. A positive, yet experimental England side actually played well and took down the Dutch 1-0. They will get another good run out and another chance for Gareth Southgate to take a look at his squad as they host Italy. The Italians are in transition having failed to make it to the World Cup.
England v Italy Betting Tips
Gareth Southgate seems to have a clear idea of where he wants to take England and the players seem to be getting it. He put out an experimental side against the Netherlands on Friday night and came away with a 1-0 win thanks to a strike by Jesse Lingard. They do still lack a genuine creative player in the middle of the park, but they pressured high and looked to play the ball quickly. Next up for them is Italy as the Three Lions work their way towards the World Cup. England are unbeaten in seven games now (W5 D2) since losing to France in a friendly last summer. A big concern for them at the World Cup could be where the goals are going to come from if Harry Kane is not fit. Still keeping on the positives, England have not conceded in any of their last five games now and England to win to nil at bet365 is at 5/2 odds* (Betting Odds taken at 9:22 p.m. on March 23rd, 2018).
2015 was the last time that these two met, in what was a friendly in Italy. Andros Townsend equalised for England in the second half of the game in a 1-1 draw. That followed England’s demise at the 2014 World Cup against the Italians. In the last five meetings, Italy are W1 D1 L1 against England and three of the last four meetings have produced a 2-1 scoreline, two wins for Italy, one for England.
Italy took on Argentina on Friday night at the Etihad Stadium on Friday night and lost 2-0. Lionel Messi didn’t get any action in the game and the South Americans struck their goals in the second half of the game. After failing to get through their World Cup qualification play-off against Sweden, Italy are a bit lost at the moment. They are under caretaker head coach Luigi Di Biagio as they try as sort out how to go forward. They aren’t in great form with just a W1 D2 L2 record in their last five games, the only success there being against Albania. The Italians are lacking an edge up front and haven’t managed more than one goal in a game in any of their last seven games and actually, in that sequence of matches have returned just the three goals in total. In the bet365 correct score market an England 1-0 has a decent amount of appeal at 6/1 odds* (Betting Odds taken at 9:22 p.m. on March 23rd, 2018).
England v Italy Betting Odds*
England 6/5, Italy 9/4, Draw 23/10* (Betting Odds taken at 9:22 p.m. on March 23rd, 2018)
England v Italy Predictions
Positive signs from England against Holland means that there is a chance for them to carry that forward and take a home win over the Italians here. Italy are always going to present a challenge, but they aren’t great at the moment and this is a great test of England’s ability to break down a good defensive side. Home win.
