England will be looking to go one step further and win the Euros next year in Germany. Their qualifying campaign starts in Naples against none other than Italy, the nation that silenced Wembley in the summer of 2021.
We’ve previewed the qualifying clash and picked out our best bets from the latest football odds. With NetBet, not only can you benefit from enhanced 1×2 odds on the game with BetPlus, you can also find boosted odds on a first goalscorer special!
Italy vs England
Thursday 23rd March, 7:45pm
Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Naples
Live on Channel 4
Italy vs England Football Preview
It’s nearly two years since England suffered the all-too-familiar penalty shootout heartbreak. A spot kick was also at the root of their demise in Qatar, as the travelling faithful watched Harry Kane’s penalty fly over the bar and the Three Lions crashed out of another major tournament.
Germany 2024 is England’s chance at redemption, but they’ve got to get there first. There aren’t too many tougher games to open your qualifying campaign. Italy might not have made it to Qatar, but their squad is littered with experience and world-class talent.
The recent meetings between these two don’t make for good reading if you’re an England fan. They’ve not beaten Gli Azzurri in a decade, since Jermaine Defoe scored the decisive goal in an international friendly in 2012. That was England’s first victory over Italy since 1977, and since Defoe scored that winner, Italy have won three and the rest have ended all-square.
Despite that appalling record, England head to Naples as very slight favourites. They still have a strong defensive record under Gareth Southgate and serious talent in forward areas. Can they shake off the Italian curse, or will it be the same old story at Stadio Maradona?
Euro 2024: Football Betting Odds
England are 2.54 favourites ahead of the match, with Italy 2.93 underdogs and a draw priced at 3.13. Both teams to score is at 1.92, with either nation to keep a clean sheet slightly favoured at 1.80. It’s never a goal fest when these two meet and under 2.5 goals (1.62) is heavily backed.
Rather unsurprisingly, Kane is leading the odds to break the deadlock at 5.50, followed by Ivan Toney (6.00) – who is still searching for a first cap. It’s West Ham’s Gianluca Scamacca (8.60) who is favourite to open the scoring for Italy, tailed by the Bundesliga’s second top scorer Vincenzo Grifo (8.700.)
Italy vs England Betting Tips
NetBet Boost: Kane to score first – 6.00
NetBet have boosted the odds on Kane to open the scoring to 6.00. The 29-year-old is having yet another phenomenal season with Spurs and heads to Italy in fine form having netted three in his last two domestic appearances. Central to everything England do, dangerous from set-pieces, and typically nailed on from the spot, he’s as good a bet as any to put England in front.
Under 2 goals – 2.12
Of the last five meetings between these nations, all five have seen two goals or less in 90 minutes, and the previous two have seen one goal or less. A solid option to double your stake if one goal decides the game or your money back for a 2-0 or 1-1 draw.
England draw no bet – 1.75
England might not have the best record in this fixture but the defeat in September 2022 was their first against Italy in 90 minutes since 2014. The Three Lions were unlucky not to find themselves in successive major tournament finals in December and will be among the favourites should they book a spot in Germany.
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