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Four-time world champions Italy enjoyed a couple of impressive performances last month as Luciano Spalletti continues to develop his Azzurri side and they now have another intriguing clash as they take on Domenico Tedesco’s Belgians in Rome.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Thursday 10th October, 2024 - UK – 7:45pm / US ET – 2:45pm / US PT – 11:45am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – FOX Sports
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – FOX Sports streaming platforms
ITALY PREVIEW: AZZURRI ON THE RISE
Luciano Spalletti took charge of the Italian national team around this time last year when Roberto Mancini took the surprise decision to become the manager of the Saudi Arabian national team.
The former Napoli boss has struggled to really effectively implement his style upon the national side and they were fortunate to make it to the Round of 16 at UEFA EURO 2024. However, they will be majorly boosted by a come from behind 3-1 defeat of France last month.
BELGIUM PREVIEW: THE CHAOS OF BELGIUM
Former Schalke manager Domenico Tedesco is enduring a difficult time of it as manager of the Belgian national team with the fallout with Thibaut Courtois still prominent as well as the underperformance and whinging of some key players.
The Red Devils began their 2024/25 UEFA Nations League campaign with a victory over Israel in which they were mainly unconvincing in Brussels before a comfortable 2-0 defeat to a not-so-fluent France side.
ITALY TEAM NEWS: RETURN OF TONALI IS KEY
Sandro Tonali was back in the Italy squad last month and put in some good performances with the Newcastle United midfielder rediscovering his form after almost a year out due to his suspension for gambling.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-1-1): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori; Cambiaso, Frattesi, Ricci, Tonali, Dimarco; Pellegrini; Retegui
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
BELGIUM TEAM NEWS: NO COURTOIS OR KDB
Belgium, as mentioned, are without Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois due to his outspoken refusal to play for Tedesco, whilst captain Kevin De Bruyne is also currently unavailable due to injury for the Belgians.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Casteels; Castagne, Faes, Debast, Theate; Tielemans, Onana; Lukebakio, De Ketelaere, Doku; Openda
UNAVAILABLE: De Bruyne (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
ITALY VS BELGIUM PREDICTION
Italy are the better of these two teams. Belgium are missing a few of their best players for a variety of reasons, endured a fairly miserable UEFA EURO 2024 campaign and have looked shaky in both games to start their UEFA Nations League campaign, too. Italy still have work to do to be considered a consistent threat but last month, especially with their performance in France, was a really positive week or so. The Italians are the favourites for this one.
ITALY VS BELGIUM TIP: ITALY TO WIN