Gareth Southgate’s England kick off their qualifying campaign for Euro 2024 with a trip to Italy against the current European champions. The Three Lions hope to end a poor run against the Azzurri after high-profile defeats in the Euro 2020 final and the Nations League.
England have failed to beat Italy in the previous six meetings, a run that goes back over a decade. They have not been triumphant in Italy in over 60 years and will hope that the exceptional form of Bukayo Saka and captain Harry Kane translates to the international stage.
There are also concerns over the setting for tonight’s clash as Naples is a hotspot for football hooliganism. Around 2,500 England fans are expected to fly into the city for the game which comes just a week after horrific violent scenes between Napoli’s notorious ultras the German Eintracht Frankfurt fans following a Champions League fixture.
Here’s everything you need to know about the game:
When does the match take place?
Italy host England at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in Naples in the opening match of the Euro 2024 qualifiers with kick off at 7.45pm.
How to watch Italy vs England?
The match is being broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK with coverage starting from 7pm.
What is the team news?
Roberto Mancini included three uncapped players in a 30-man squad for these opening Euro 2024 qualifiers. Lecce goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone, Torino defender Alessandro Buongiorno and Atletico Tigre striker Mateo Retegui were all named in the national squad for the first time. Ciro Immobile is out injured while Napoli’s Giacomo Raspadori and Gianluca Scamacca of West Ham United have lacked playing time, with Mancini opting for Scamacca over Raspadori.
Marcus Rashford, Mason Mount and Nick Pope have withdrawn from the England squad due to injuries, while there were some notable omissions when Southgate’s group was announced last week. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Callum Wilson and Ben White weren’t included but there are spots for Kalvin Phillips and Ivan Toney. Raheem Sterling is injured.
Predicted line-ups
Italy XI: Donnarumma; Scalvini, Bonucci, Acerbi; Di Lorenzo, Barella, Verratti, DiMarco; Politano, Berardi, Grifo
England XI: Pickford; Trippier, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Bellingham, Henderson; Saka, Kane, Foden
Italy – 13/8
Draw – 9/4
England 13/8
Prediction
England have not beaten Italy in Italy for over 60 years so it’s an uphill task for Gareth Southgate’s men.
Roberto Mancini’s European champions lost 2-0 to Austria last time out and with England’s front line all in terrific form the Three Lions could cause an upset and get their qualifying campaign of to a great start.
More realistically, this will be a tense and cagey affair in a hostile environment for England and they’ll do well to avoid defeat.
Italy 1-1 England.
