England would be looking to strengthen their grip on first place when they host Italy in the European Championship qualifiers this week. The English team is having a great outing and is one of Europe’s most entertaining teams. Italy was beaten 2-1 in the reverse fixture a few months ago, and they need to avoid another loss against England. Can the Three Lions pick up another win on home soil, or will the Italians cause another upset at Wembley?
England’s first game of the break was against Australia, which ended in a 1-0 win for the English side. Ollie Watkins’ goal was enough for England to record a second consecutive win. Gareth Southgate’s team have not lost a game this year and are in good spirits.
Italy hammered Malta 4-0 in their last game of the Euro qualifiers, and they are within touching distance of England. The Azzurri has not had a rosy year so far, and they need to be careful in the final few qualifying games.
| ℹ️ Tournament: | 2024 EURO Qualifications, Group C, Round 8 |
| 🏟️Venue: | Wembley Stadium, London, England |
| 🗓️Date: | 17 October 2023 |
| ⏰Time: | 7:45 p.m. GMT on Tuesday |
England is the clear favorite to win this game, and apart from having the home advantage, they have a stronger team. The bookmakers are offering 1.67 (4/6) odds on a win for the Three Lions, while Italy is pegged at 5.50 (9/2) to win. The draw result is priced at 3.75 (11/4), and it is the most frequent result between these two teams.
England sits at the top of Group C after five games, and they are easily the best team in this group. Gareth Southgate’s team has racked up four wins in five matches, and they have not lost a game in the qualifiers. The Three Lions are currently fourth on the FIFA World rankings, and they can maintain their spot if they finish first. England would face Malta and North Macedonia in their last two games of the qualifiers.
Italy is another favorite to qualify from this group, and they would be hoping to avoid another disappointment after missing out on the World Cup. The Italians moved out of the top five on the FIFA World rankings but they are still ranked in the top 10. Italy’s last major trophy was in the last European Championship, and they beat England on penalties to win the title at Wembley. A win for the Italians would see them go level on points with England.
| Group C Teams | Standings | Matches Played | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 1st | 5 | 13 |
| Italy* | 2nd | 5 | 10 |
| Ukraine | 3rd | 6 | 10 |
| North Macedonia | 4th | 6 | 7 |
| Malta | 5th | 6 | 0 |
After the draw against North Macedonia in September, Italy put at danger their chances of getting a direct ticket to Germany. However, everything is in their hands even if they lose to England, but they should not lose an away match against Ukraine in November.
England has almost secured their spot in the main stage of Euro 2024, as one victory in three matches will be enough for them. The second spot will likely go to Italy, but even if not, they will have an extra chance via the Nations League playoffs.
England and Italy have a long history of battle between them, and most of the games have been closely contested. Italy lost to England in the last meeting in the group stage, but they have a better record in the knockout games.
England: WWDWW
Italy: WWDWL
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The English national team is one of the best in the world, and they have almost a quality backup in every position. They have four wins in five games, and the only time they dropped points was away to Ukraine. England dominated the first game against Italy, creating more chances than their opponents and getting all three points.
The Three Lions have won all their home games in the group stage, scoring nine goals and failing to concede. Italy has had a few players withdrawn from the team, and with a weaker squad, they are likely to lose again to England. A bet on England to win is the best available option on the EURO qualification odds betting.
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Games between Italy and England are very intense, and with about at stake in this game, we could see a couple of bookings. Both teams received at least two bookings in the first game in Italy, and there was even a sending-off. There have been 16 yellow cards between England and Italy in the Euro Championship qualifiers. The bookies are offering good football betting odds on a bet for both teams to receive at least two cards in this game. Following the recent meetings and the importance of this game, you should back both teams to receive at least two bookings.
England has a fully fit team, and they have multiple options on the bench. Gareth Southgate is likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Harry Kane as the lone striker. Harry Maguire has seen very few minutes with the Manchester United team, but he is expected to slot into the starting lineup for England.
Nicolo Zaniolo and Sandro Tonali are absent from this game after the pair were suspended for betting allegations. Federico Chiesa, Mattia Zaccagni, and Ivan Provedel are injured and unavailable for the game against England.
The biggest game of the group features England and Italy in London this week, and there are great offers from the bookmakers. You can make extra cash from this game by using our expert betting tips and predictions.
