England vs Italy Tips: Predictions and Betting Odds

Enfield Independent

16 October 2023

England edged past Australia in their friendly clash last week as Ollie Watkins scored the only goal of the game. After handing squad players opportunities, Southgate will return his key men for the contest in a bid to record a double over Italy.

Luciano Spalletti will be aiming to make life difficult for Southgate and company and extend their wait for a place in the finals. Spalletti replaced Roberto Mancini as Italy manager in August and has notched two wins and a draw in his first three qualifying matches.

The Azzurri still have work to do to cement their place in the Euros after failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. They will be out to make a statement against one of the best teams in Europe.

Here are our three picks for the contest using odds from

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Jude Bellingham has enjoyed a perfect start to his career at Real Madrid. After completing a summer move to Los Blancos, the 20-year-old has hit the ground running at the Bernabeu, scoring 10 goals in 10 appearances across LaLiga and the Champions League.

Bellingham’s star is rising across Europe and is already entering the conversation as one of the best players in the world.

In his last full appearance for England, he dominated the final third against Scotland, scoring once and creating another. Southgate will be desperate for the Real Madrid man to continue his outstanding form.

Although Bellingham has found the scoring touch at club level, he has only netted twice in 26 appearances for the Three Lions.

His only competitive goal for England came in the 6-2 hammering of Iran in the 2022 World Cup. We’re backing Bellingham to find his scoring touch for the Three Lions at Wembley at odds of 5/1 with BetVictor.

In the reverse fixture, England took a 2-0 lead before the end of the first half courtesy of a strike from Harry Kane from the penalty spot. The Three Lions have been awarded penalties in three of their five matches during Euro 2024 qualifying, receiving four in total.

All four spot kicks have been scored as Kane has netted three times, while Callum Wilson dispatched the other in England’s 4-0 win over Malta.

Southgate’s men have been efficient from the spot, converting 10 out of their last 11 kicks, with the one miss unfortunately coming in the World Cup quarter-final defeat to France.

Given that Italy won the Euros on penalties it would be fitting for a spot kick to be awarded at Wembley. England have a number of players capable of winning penalties, notably Jack Grealish down the left flank.

After looking at , we’re backing a penalty to be awarded in the game at odds of 11/4 with Unibet.

In his two matches during qualifying, Manuel Locatelli has not been booked, but that could change against the Three Lions. He will be sitting in the middle of the park and facing a lot of players that can draw fouls.

The Juventus midfielder may have to cope with the driving force of Bellingham running at the Azzurri lines or the strength and nous of Kane in fending off potential tacklers.

That’s without mentioning Grealish, Phil Foden and Marcus Rashford. There’s a lot of pace in the England line-up and all it takes is a dangling leg for a card to be brandished.

French referee Clement Turpin has shown five yellow and zero red cards in his previous two Euro 2024 qualifying matches. So, players may get one reprieve, but Turpin will not have endless patience.

He recently dished out seven yellow cards in a Ligue 1 game between Paris Saint-Germain and Nice. We’re backing Locatelli to receive a yellow card in the game at 29/10 with BetMGM.

Simon Sinclair is an experienced sports journalist, who has written for national publications for football, cricket, NFL and many more. He contributes tips on a wide range of sports for The Independent.