Belgium and Italy will meet in the Euro 2020 quarter-finals on Friday night, pitting two continental giants against each other. After carefully studying the recent form of both teams, we present our Euro 2020 predicitons – Belgium vs Italy.
The two teams meet at Munich’s Allianz Arena, with the Belgians presently ranked number one in the world. After all, they’ve gone undefeated this season, recently beating even Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal 1-0 (football updates).
Meanwhile, the Azzurri set a new national record by going 31 games without losing in the previous round. They last won over Austria, with a 2-0 tally close to our Euro 2020 prediction for a 2-1 score.
Team news
Belgium
- After both limped off due to injury against Portugal on Sunday, Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard are massive concerns. They will mostly not play for Friday’s quarter-final meeting with Italy.
- The obvious replacements for both, in the meantime, are Dries Mertens and Yannick Carrasco.
- Depending on his fitness, meanwhile, Thomas Vermaelen will likely hold his spot in Belgium’s back three.
Belgium possible starting lineup: Courtois; Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Vertonghen; T. Hazard, Witsel, Tielemans, Meunier; Mertens, Lukaku, Carrasco
Italy
- Roberto Mancini will hope to have his captain Giorgio Chiellini available against Belgium. Mancini did not risk him against Austria on Saturday.
- Alessandro Florenzi is also a question mark in the starting line-up.
- Federico Chiesa is a serious contender to replace Domenico Berardi in Italy’s front three.
- With both Matteo Pessina and Manuel Locatelli vying for a starting spot in midfield, Mancini is in a serious pickle.
- Finally, Nicolo Barella’s position on the team is in jeopardy.
Italy possible starting lineup: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Chiellini, Spinazzola; Barella, Jorginho, Verratti; Chiesa, Immobile, Insigne
Euro 2020 Predictions – Belgium vs Italy
- Belgium knocked off defending champions Portugal in the round of 16, but it came at a high price. Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne suffered injuries and may be on the sidelines for the rest of the tournament.
- Italy’s first gut check of the summer came against Austria on Saturday, after a faultless group stage winning streak. There too, though, Italy eventually won 2-1 after failing to score in normal time, setting up their hardest test yet.
- If Hazard and De Bruyne are both indeed ruled out, Italy will be clear favorites on Friday night.
This matchup, the best of the quarter-finals, is exceedingly tough to predict.
Indeed, individual brilliance may be all that separates the teams across 90 minutes, and potentially even extra time.
However, Italy has a chance to go to the semi-finals because Belgium is weak right now.
They’ve experienced injuries in the last-16 whereas the Azzurri have attacking talents whose flash of inspiration could decide any game.
