Belgium vs Italy
Belgium vs Italy takes place in Munich on July 2 as the second quarter-final of Euro 2020. Belgium squeaked past the Netherlands 1-0 in a tough round of 16 match to qualify for this game, while Italy broke Austrian hearts in extra time 2-1 to book their passage. Read on for more analysis, match predictions and betting tips.
Form
Belgium’s match against Portugal wasn’t really one for the ages and it took a wonder goal by Hazard to break the tie and win it for Belgium. However, it’s unlikely that many would have named Dortmund attacking midfielder Thorgan as the goalscorer pre-match rather than his brother Eden; and with the Real Madrid player picking up a knock in this game it might have to be Thorgan who helps Belgium progress further. Belgium reached the quarter-finals in 2016 but you have to go back to 1980 for the last time they got further than that stage. In what many see as the last chance for the so-called “Golden Generation”, the big question is if Roberto Martinez can take them as far as their undoubted talent deserves.
It took extra time for Italy to finally breach the Austrian defence, and while Franco Foda’s team managed to equalise, the Azzurri were too much for them in the end thanks to Matteo Pessina’s close range finish. Yet it was VAR that saved Italy’s blushes in normal time, ruling out a strike by Marko Arnautovic which could have sent the Austrians through. It’s Italy’s fourth consecutive appearance in the last eight of a European Championships but they’ve fallen at this hurdle twice in the previous three attempts. In 2012 they made it all the way to the final where they lost to Spain; win this game and they could take revenge for that in the semi-finals here.
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Injuries
The round of 16 was costly for Belgium in injury terms. Already robbed of Timothy Castagne thanks to a double fracture of the eye socket, Roberto Martinez has confirmed that Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne will join Eden Hazard on the sidelines for this game having both picked up knocks. It seems especially cruel considering de Bruyne has just come back from injury and it makes for a huge test for the Belgium squad. Yannick Carrasco and Dries Martens were the replacements in the Portugal game and they are most likely to be brought in for this game.
Lazio defender Francesco Acerbi came in for injured Italian skipper Giorgio Chiellini for the round of 16 against Austria, and could keep his place for this game. There has been no news on Chiellini’s injury and it will be a big call for Roberto Mancini to recall the Juventus defender back if he’s not fully fit. Fiorentina winger Federico Chiesa scored his second international goal off the bench in that win over Austria and will be pushing for a start while Pessina’s second goal of the tournament might give Mancini food for thought about the Italian midfield.
Match Predictions
Italy start the game as favourites, with the bookies offering 2.25 against the Azzurri beating Belgium in 90 minutes. The last time these two teams met was in the group stages of Euro 2016 and Italy won that one 2-0 but in the five years that have passed the Italian team has changed markedly. Italy’s great defensive record has obviously caught the attention of the bookies as under 2.5 goals is at just 1.50 while BTTS: No is only 1.75. With so many goals already in this tournament it might not be value to go for unders in the goal markets and the best betting tips might be in the overs markets.
