Italy UEFA Euro 2020 Preview
Gli Azzurri to reach last four?
Bookmaker Paddy Power
Odds: 7/2 odds taken 2006 GMT, Tuesday 8 June
Italy kick off the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament with a fixture against Turkey at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Friday night. Roberto Mancini’s men are in fine fettle and will desperate to get off to a winning start.
The Italians were runners-up in 2000 and 2012 but have not won the European Championship tournament since 1968. Can the four-time FIFA World Cup winners get their hands on the trophy in 2021? Check out the latest Italy odds and predictions.
Table of Contents
Group A Preview – Who are their opponents?
In Euro 2020 Group A, Italy will take on Turkey, Switzerland and Wales. As you would expect, the Italians are the bookies’ favourites to win the group, but the Swiss, Turks and Welsh will all no doubt be tough opponents at this summer’s championship.
Italy get the tournament up and running with a game against Turkey in Rome. They then play Switzerland at the Olimpico on matchday two before hosting Wales on 20th June. With all three matches taking place on Rome soil, Italy certainly have the advantage.
Realistically, Italy only need one win to make it through to the last 16, but Mancini’s boys will be looking for nine points out of nine. Who joins Gli Azzurri in the knockout rounds will surely be Group A’s most intriguing battle.
Italy Key Facts
- Italy are four-time world champions
- Gli Azzurri were European Championship winners way back in 1968
- The Italians have won eight games in a row
- Italy have lost just one match since June 2018
Euro 2020 Italy Group Prediction: Italy to go through as group winners
Italy are in staggering form under Mancini. Since a UEFA Nations League loss to current European champions Portugal way back in September 2018, Gli Azzurri have gone on to win 22 and draw four of 26 international matches.
Italy head to the Euros having won eight in a row, keeping clean sheets in all eight. In their last two, they have beaten San Marino 7-0 and Czech Republic 4-0. The Italians last conceded a goal in October 2020.
Italy are one of the favourites in this summer’s tournament, and it is easy to see why when you look at their form since missing out on the 2018 FIFA World Cup. They should have no problems winning Group A, and Paddy Power are offering the decent odds of 2/5 for Italy to reach the last 16 as group winners.
Italy Euros Top Scorer: Immobile vs Insigne
Ciro Immobile may be 31 these days, but the Lazio man has not lost his goalscoring touch. Immobile has had a stunning season for club and country, netting 28 times. The striker scored in Italy’s 4-0 victory over the Czechs last time out.
Lorenzo Insigne will be another player to look out for in Group A. Although not as prolific as Immobile, Insigne still managed to hit 20 goals in all competitions this term. The 30-year-old was also on target in last week’s impressive win.
Immobile is priced at 15/8 to finish top scorer for Italy, while you can get Insigne at 4/1. Chelsea’s Jorginho, who is one of the best penalty takers in the world, is available at the tempting odds of 9/1.
Our Italy Euro 2020/21 Predictions: Can Mancini’s men reach the semis?
Italy did not qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, which was a low point in the nation’s incredible footballing history. However, they have really kicked on since then, with former Manchester City boss Mancini at the helm.
Italy reached the quarter-finals in France five years ago, while they were runners-up in Poland & Ukraine in 2012. Since 1996, the Italians have only failed to escape the group at a Euros on one occasion.
Italy are one of the European powerhouses once again, and they could go far this summer. At the time of writing, only England, France, Belgium and Spain are available at shorter odds to lift the trophy at Wembley Stadium in mid-July.
The winners of Euro 2020 is anyone’s guess, but Italy should reach the latter stages of this pan-European event. Check out Paddy Power’s top odds of 7/2 for the Italians to make it to the last four. If you fancy them to go all the way, 15/2 is an excellent price.
