Italy vs Finland
Euro 2020 arrives in Udine at the weekend when Italy takes on Finland at the Friuli Arena. It’s the Azzurri’s big chance to climb back onto the world stage.
After failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, their first absence since 1958, the Italians have done a lot of soul searching and now they have an opportunity to put things right. The draw has been kind and a home game against Finland should present Roberto Mancini’s team with an early three points, and a chance to lead Group J from the off.
Finland is a team on the up, having been promoted to Nations League B, but at 59th in the FIFA World Rankings, 41 places behind their hosts, the visitors are in for a tough ride in north Italy.
Talking Points
Azzurri’s clear road to the finals
18th in the World Rankings is too low for Italy’s passionate fans but having missed out on Russia 2018 Mancini’s team will take nothing for granted, though Italy has been dealt a good hand in Group J of the qualifiers. In all likelihood they will battle for Bosnia and Herzegovina for top spot, while Finland and Greece have an outside chance of progress.
Mancini will have his big guns ready and loaded and is likely to start with Lazio hit man Ciro Immobile up front; and he’ll be supported by Juventus wide attacker Federico Bernardeschi and Napoli’s excellent Lorenzo Insigne. The head coach has also turned to youth in the shape of young striker Nicolo Zaniolo who looks a real prospect, having impressed for Roma in the Champions League. The 19 year old could be one of the stars of SBOBET Euro 2020 and may feature at some point against Finland.
The Azzurri will rely, as always, on a rock solid defence so Finland coach, Markku Kanerva has his work cut out to stop the flow of goals at one end and find a way through a defensive wall at the other.
Finland’s secret weapon
While Finland isn’t blessed with household names they have, in their ranks, one of the standout players in the English Championship, Norwich City’s Teemu Pukki. The Canaries are riding high at the top of the second tier and Pukki’s 24 goals make him the Championship leading scorer, and that’s no mean feat in a league widely agreed to be one of the six toughest in Europe.
After a difficult spell in Scotland with Celtic, his arrival at Carrow Road was greeted with doubt, but Pukki is now a firm fans’ favourite as they hope his goals will fire them back to England’s top flight.
He’s likely to be supported up front by attacking midfielder Kasper Hamalainen. The 32 year old Legia Warsaw man scores at a rate of around one in four for his club and has nine goals in 52 appearances for his national side.
Finland was impressive in the Nations League, seeing off Greece and Estonia, but they may find a determined Italy a step too far.
History
Even though Italy failed to win their Nations League group, they come into this game on the back of three clean sheets; and the Italy vs Finland betting odds point to a home win at 1.30, while the draw is 4.90 and a Finland victory out there at 9.25.
That makes a whole lot of sense when you look at the head-to-heads between Italy and Finland. Their last meeting in 2016 resulted in a 2-0 win for the Azzurri with goals from Antonio Candreva and Daniele De Rossi, and that made it six in a row for the Italians.
In fact, Italy has won eight of the last nine meetings and kept eight clean sheets along the way. Who’d bet against the experienced back line featuring Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci from making it nine?
Not me!
Betting Tip
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Italy vs Finland | Italy Asian Handicap -1.50 @2.06 |
| March 24 03:45 (GMT+8) |
It would be one of the shock Euro 2020 results of the opening weekend if this turned out to be anything other than a regulation home win.
Finland’s record against the hosts has been disastrous and, while they have an attacker in great form in Teemu Pukki, the underdogs are under no illusion around the size of the challenge they face.
As well as a legendary defence Italy does have serious firepower up front and I think they will register another win to nil. 1-0 is the lowest odds score line at 4.30, while 2-0 is at 4.60 and I’m leaning towards a comfortable win, maybe a repeat of the 2016 clash.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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