Greece VS Italy Match Prediction
2019-06-08
18:45:00
Greece
VS
Italy
Our Prediction Tip
Italy will win this match.
2019-06-0818:45:00 Italy will win this match.
In ten matches, Greece have just a single win to go with four draws against the Italians. The lone win came in 1972. The last meeting, and the only one since the 80s’ came in 2008 as the sides drew 1-1 in Piraeus.
Bet365 have the following odds available for this match:
Greece are at 10/3 to win, a draw is at 11/5, and an Italy win is at 10/11.
Greece have to be one of the most frustrating nations in the world of football. They can be downright brilliant or just awful, and that often makes them unpredictable, at best, to get a read on. They didn’t play as well as they could have in the Nations League, and it meant they finished third behind Finland and Hungary in League C, Group 2. But they have started qualifying fairly well so far and got a useful point on the road to Bosnia that might help tremendously. In their last year, they have four wins, four losses, and a draw. They have not won (or lost) two matches in a row over that time. At home, they have two wins and a loss in that span. The loss coming to Estonia inexplicably.
Italy are also a team that is starting to get a bit of a reputation for not living up to expectations. They didn’t even make it to Russia, and they didn’t exactly set the world on fire in the Nations League, either. They did avoid relegation by finishing second in Group 3 of League A, but it’s not what the four time World Cup winners would have wanted. In the last year, they have four wins, three draws, and a loss. They are on a bit of a roll recently, with four wins and two draws coming since a defeat to Portugal in September. They have only let in one goal over that time. Away from, in the same time, they have a win and a loss.
Ladbrokes have under 1.5 goals at 27/20.
Betfair have Immobile scoring at 2.62 odds.
This game has 0-0 written all over, such is the level of tactical eptitude, if you will, and sheer stubbornness that both teams have inside of them. But with that said, Italy have just a little bit more of a spark to them and can grind out a win.
Angelos Anastasiadis, 2-1-3 as Greek boss, was unable to call upon defender Michalis Bakakis, midfielder Lazaros Christodoulopoulos, or forward Kostas Mitroglu due to injuries.
The pride and joy of the Greeks is their defence, and at the heart of it is Roma man Kostas Manolas. He’s a real rock at the back, and when he’s on song with Sokratis, it can be hard to get anything by them. They also are very tough to stop in the opposition box as well. Up front, the danger man will most likely have to be Kostas Fortounis. The Olympiacos man will have to step up and attempt to add to the six goals he has scored in 42 outings since they are without Mitroglu.
Greece have two losses, a draw, and two wins in their last five matches:
2-1 loss at Turkey (Fri)
2-2 draw at Bosnia (ECQ)
0-2 win at Liechtenstein (ECQ)
0-1 home loss vs Estonia (UNL)
1-0 home win vs Finland (UNL)
Roberto Mancini, 5-4-2 in charge of the Azzurri, has injuries that will keep defender Cristiano Piccini and forward Matteo Politano out of the team here. He’s decided to leave out striker Mario Balotelli, midfielder Roberto Gagliardini, and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma as well.
Moise Kean has burst onto the scene in the last few months, and he will look to add to his already bustling status as one of the world’s best young players. He’s already got two goals, coming in their last two games, both of which were wins, in three matches and could be the next world superstar. In the middle of the park will be Jorginho to pull the strings. The Chelsea man had a bit of a disappointing season in London, but he can be just the kind of player to keep his side ticking over against such a stubborn Greek side.
Italy have four wins and a draw in their last five matches:
6-0 home win vs Liechtenstein (ECQ)
2-0 home win vs Finland (ECQ)
1-0 home win vs USA (Fri)
0-0 home draw vs Portugal (UNL)
0-1 win at Poland (UNL)
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