Football 
Tennis 
Horse Racing Euro 2021 Italy Odds, Tips, Stats
It’s a new era for the Italian national team. Roberto Mancini has helped bring through a new generation of talent. They qualified with ease but Italian success at major tournaments is rare. They’ve only made it beyond the quarter-finals once since lifting the FIFA World Cup in 2006. Recent form suggests this Azzurri side will go further.
In this article:
- Italy Euro 2021 Fixtures
- Italy Euro 2021 Qualification & Form
- Italy Euro 2021 Squad & Manager
- Italy Euro History
- Italy Euro 2021 Odds
- Italy Euro 2021 Prediction
Italy Euro Group A Fixtures
Roberto Mancini’s men have a good draw. Italy are in Group A of Euro 2020 alongside Turkey, Switzerland and Wales. They’ll play the opening match of the tournament against Turkey on 11th June.
As one of the host nations, all three of their group matches are on home soil. The Stadio Olimpico in Rome will host half of the Group A matches and one more quarter-final fixture. The other group matches are in Azerbaijan. That gives Italy the logistical advantage.
They’re the big favourites to reach the next stage. There is a sizeable gap between Italy and the rest of Group A but all three sides will challenge them. Switzerland boast quality players and topped a difficult group in qualifying. Elsewhere, Turkey had the best defence in qualifying and Wales made it to the semi-finals in Euro 2016.
Italy Euro 2021 Fixtures & Tips
Italy Euro Qualification & Form
Things couldn’t have been much better for Italy in qualifying. They won 10 matches from 10 in Qualifying Group J. It was the first time since 1954 that the Azzurri won every match when qualifying for a major tournament. They only played two matches when qualifying for that 1954 World Cup.
They breezed through qualifying. Italy were in Qualifying Group I alongside Finland and Greece. Armenia, Lichtenstein and Bosnia & Herzegovina rounded off the group. Finland were the Azzurri’s closest challengers as they finished on six wins from 10. Bosnia also threatened to hold them to a draw but for a late Italian winner back in June 2019.
But none of these sides were on Italy’s level. The new members of this Azzurri side showed their quality and picked them apart. The highlights were a 6-0 win against Armenia and a massive 9-1 victory over Lichtenstein.
They remain in good form. Italy won all their 2022 World Cup qualifiers to top the group. They also progressed to the semi-finals of the Nations League. That tie will take place in October.
Italy Euro Qualifying Record
Below is a list of Italy’s average match stats when qualifying for Euro 2021 and the Nations League.
| GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | ShF | ShA | SotF | SotA | xGF | xGA | Pos |
| 23 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 2.26 | 0.35 | 17.78 | 7.78 | 6.13 | 2.48 | 2.18 | 0.90 | 64 |
Games Played, Won, Drew, Lost, Average Goals For, Average Goals Against, Average Shots For, Average Shots Against, Average Shots on Target For, Average Shots on Target Against, Expected Goals For, Expected Goals Against, Average Possession
Italy Euro Squad & Manager
Manager: Roberto Mancini
Goalkeepers: Salvatore Sirigu, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Alex Meret
Defenders: Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Spinazzola, Emerson, Francesco Acerbi, Leonardo Bonucci, Alessandro Bastoni, Alessandro Florenzi, Rafael Toloi
Midfielders: Manuel Locatelli, Marco Verratti, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Jorginho, Matteo Pessina, Bryan Cristante, Nicolo Barella
Attackers: Andrea Belotti, Lorenzo Insigne, Domenico Berardi, Federico Chiesa, Ciro Immobile, Federico Bernardeschi, Giacomo Raspadori
It has been an excellent few years for Roberto Mancini. The former Manchester City and Internazionale boss joined after the disappointment of 2018. Italy failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in over 60 years. It was a rebuilding job for Mancini who had an ageing squad of underperforming players.
Captain Gianluigi Buffon announced his retirement from the national team. As did Andrea Barzagli and Daniele De Rossi. They were all a part of the core group of players that helped deliver the 2006 World Cup.
But a new era has arrived. Buffon has had his gloves filled by the young Milan stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma. In defence, there is a mix of youth and experience. Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci support Alessandro Bastoni and Leonardo Spinazzola. Emerson Palmieri and Alessandro Florenzi provide quality out wide.
This Italian squad boasts an excellent midfield. Nicola Barrella, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Manuel Locatelli all thrive in Serie A. Marco Veratti and Jorginho provide experience if needed.
Nobody can doubt Federico Chiesa’s quality in attack. Andrea Belotti, Domenico Berardi, Lorenzo Insigne and Ciro Immobile provide options upfront. After that, 19-year-old Giacomo Raspadori is the surprise call-up in attack.
It gives Roberto Mancini more choice than any Italian manager since 2006. The Azzurri have lacked options in offensive areas for a long time. Mancini could now name two starting lineups of real quality. He deserves credit for ushering in this new generation of players but now is the time for them to deliver.
Italy Euro History
One area that Italy thrived in during qualifying was in front of goal. The Azzurri scored freely in those 10 qualifying matches for Euro 2020. They found the net 37 times in total. That is more than they scored when qualifying for Euro 2012 and Euro 2016 combined.
They do have goals from all over the pitch. Seven different players scored in Italy’s 9-1 win over Lichtenstein in qualifying. That’s a national team record. But it wasn’t about that match. In total, an incredible 19 different players scored for Italy during qualifying.
Italy Past Performance at European Championship:
- 1996: Group Stage
- 2000: Runners-Up
- 2004: Group Stage
- 2008: Quarter-Finals
- 2012: Runners-Up
- 2016: Quarter-Finals
That will be music to their ears. Goals have been a major problem for Italy in recent major tournaments. Italy averaged 1.00 goal per match in the last five major tournaments since winning the 2006 World Cup.
Italy Euro Odds
Italy are very much the outsiders with the bookies. You’ll get odds of 9.0 at BetBull for the Azzurri to lift the European Championship title for the first time since 1968. It’s 5.50 for Italy to reach the final. They’ve done that twice in the last five editions of the tournament.
Italy sit alongside the Netherlands and behind Spain, Portugal and Germany in the betting. Those four nations are behind the favourites England, France and Belgium.
But of course, Italy are leading the race with the bookies to top their group. They are 1.53 to top Group A ahead of Switzerland, Turkey and Wales. It’s a tricky group but the Azzurri are 1.05 to qualify for the knockout stage.
All odds as at June 9th 2021 with BetBull
Italy Euro 2021 Prediction
Italy may be the surprise package at Euro 2021. Roberto Mancini’s men impressed in qualifying and showed their offensive ability. There are goals everywhere in this Azzurri side and quality throughout.
Italy have some exciting young players to build the team around. There is experience alongside that but the younger players will only improve with age. They are well integrated into the squad.
They also have an excellent manager in Roberto Mancini. He has won trophies across Europe and has overseen this transition period with Italy. The Azzurri are in good form across various competitions. The foundation is there for them to impress at Euro 2021.
Italy Euro 2021 Prediction: They’ll get out of a tricky group and make it to the quarter-finals.
