Ireland v Italy Odds & Betting Prediction Euro 2012

Can Irish scupper Italian dreams?

Ireland - Giovanni Trapattoni
Ireland - Giovanni Trapattoni © GEPA pictures

Italy v Ireland Euro 2012 betting will see the final bow for Ireland after a disappointing tournament, and it could also be an exit for Italy. The Italians have to come out and win this in order to stand a chance of getting through. They start two points behind both Spain and Croatia in Group C, so they really a result, one way or the other in the other group match as well. Italy need to record a win or else they are out, but they could get through is Spain v Croatia ends 0-0, and if the other match ends 1-1, then Italy would need to beat Ireland by a scoreline of 3-1 or greater. So there is still a chance here, because the way that most people are expecting the climax of Group C to pan out, is a win for both Italy and Spain, which would send them through.

Fortunately for Italy, their record against Ireland is pretty good, having only ever lost twice in eleven meetings against the Irish. The Italians have picked up two draws from their first two group matches, taking the lead in both of the games but then being unable to hold on. So that is a worrying pattern for them, because they have been guilty of dropping back too much and not pressing on to really close out a game. So if they do exit here, then they will only have themselves to blame. It only took one moment of a lapse in concentration against Croatia in particular to cost them maximum points, and so the potential is there for the Italians, they just haven’t been able to click fully as a team.

Ireland v Italy Euro 2012 Odds at Bet365
Italy 3/10, Draw 9/2, Ireland 10/1

They are a side who are still growing under Cesare Prandelli since the 2010 World Cup. Defensively they were very good through qualification for Poland and Ukraine, but there have just been errors which have cost them dearly. Still, they do play a more attacking game than we have seen any Italian side produce in many years. If they have more quality up front, then they would be just that much stronger as well. Andrea Pirlo pulls some wonderful strings in moving Italy forward, but they lack a world class striker. Prandelli has suggested that Mario Balotelli may sit this one out because he picked up a knock in training a couple of days ago. Despite all of their progress, Italy have not won a match in 2012, but surely this is one where the really should not be too many questions about the result. Incidentally, Italy have never won on Polish soil either. Five times they have played in Poland and all times the matches have ended in a draw. Italy need more than that. Italy’s competitive record against Ireland stands at W3 D2 L1, but they have not beaten the plucky Irish in their last three meetings.

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Ireland have bowed out of the tournament already, without making much of an impact at all. They got off to a terrible start against Croatia in their first match, and with the two tougher fixtures against Spain and Italy to follow that, it was the last they needed to kick Euro 2012 off. Coach Giovanni Trapattoni, will be bitterly disappointed with his side, who had established themselves a s side which was very hard to beat during Euro 2012 qualifications Following the 3-1 defeat against Croatia, the Irish went down 4-0 against Spain and they truthfully have looked a bit short in quality. So can they muster up one big moment, something for their fans to cheer about before they head home? The last time the two sides met was a friendly in June 2011, and the Irish did win that won 2-0, so with all of the pressure off, Trapattoni will be looking for a big response and to possibly spoil the Italian Euro 2012 party. There has only been one change from the line-up which faced Spain, as Kevin Doyle gets the start up front in favour of Simon Cox. The Irish have prided themselves down the years as being strong underdogs, as being proud of being a team who can step up and match the big guns. They have fallen a long way short here, and could well end up empty handed.

Ireland v Italy Prediction: Italy are a good side when they start knocking the ball around. They are not afraid to get forward either, although they have not developed that killer instinct yet. They are a better side than the Irish at the moment, and they really don’t need any motivation, they have to win or join the Irish going home. An Italy -1.5 Asian Handicap for a price of 43/40 at Bet365 looks a fair shout.