Spain vs Italy Preview & Prediction | 2022-23 UEFA Nations League
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THE FACTS
When is Spain vs Italy on and what time does it start? Spain vs Italy will take place on Thursday 15th June, 2023 – 19:45 (UK)
Where is Spain vs Italy taking place? Spain vs Italy will take place at De Grolsch Veste in Enschede, Netherlands
Where can I get tickets for Spain vs Italy? Ticket information for Spain vs Italy can be found on each country’s national team website
What channel is Spain vs Italy on in the UK? Premier Sports have the rights to televise UEFA Nations League matches in the UK so it is worth checking their schedule for Spain vs Italy
Where can I stream Spain vs Italy in the UK? If Spain vs Italy is televised on Premier Sports, subscribers will be able to stream the match live on Premier Player
THE LOWDOWN
SPAIN
Luis de la Fuente has been in charge of senior Spanish national team for just two games and already he is thrust into a cauldron of pressure that is the Nations League finals. Victory here would see Spain go within one win of lifting their first international trophy since EURO 2012 and the stakes are understandably high, with Spain fans still smarting after such a disappointing 2022 World Cup campaign. They were beaten in penalties in the Round of 16 by Morocco following a 0-0 draw in Al Rayyan. This after sneaking through the group stage in second-place with just four points to their name.
That World Cup showing spelt the end of Luis Enrique’s time as head coach, but prior to the World Cup he had guided Spain to the summit of Group A2 in the 2022-23 Nations League. They were beaten just once across their six matches played, drawing twice and winning three times including a memorable late victory away to Portugal in the final round of fixtures, which saw them leapfrog their opponents into top spot. The question now is whether Luis de la Fuente can finish the job started by Luis Enrique.
ITALY
In terms of the importance of the 2022-23 Nations League, it would be fair to say that it matters more to Italy than any of the other countries remaining in the competition. Whilst Netherlands, Croatia and semi-final opponents Spain were competing at the World Cup last year, the Azzurri were sat watching from home after failing to qualify for the tournament. A humiliating experience no doubt for the reigning European champions and one of the true giants of world football. With that firmly in mind, Roberto Mancini and his side will no doubt be looking to put smiles back on Italian faces by lifting the Nations League trophy. To give themselves a chance of doing that though, they’ll need to do exactly what they did last time they reached this stage of the competition, and win their semi-final match.
Italy competed in Group A3, arguably the ‘Group of Death’ when considering that they were competing alongside nations such as Germany and England. But Mancini’s men came out with 11 points, with their only loss coming in Monchengladbach. Victories in their final two fixtures of the group stage against England and Hungary respectably proved enough for them to progress, three points over the latter ending up being particularly crucial as it led to them overtaking Hungary in the last round of games.
THE TEAM NEWS
SPAIN
Midfield general Rodri is among the squad named by Spain for the Nations League finals stage despite having just played in the 2022-23 Champions League final, scoring the winning goal for Man City, which helped see him named ‘Player of the Match’. Whether he features from the start here remains to be seen. Striker Alvaro Morata is also in the squad after his goal vs Portugal sealed Spain’s passage to the semi-finals. Expect the likes of Gavi and Dani Olmo to play key roles for the Spaniards over the course of this contest with a thigh injury side-lining Pedri.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Arrizabalaga; Carvajal, Le Normand, Nacho Alba; Gavi, Zubimendi, Merino; Asensio, Morata, Olmo
UNAVAILABLE: Pedri (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
ITALY
Both Domenico Berardi and Matteo Pessina were part of Italy’s preliminary squad for the Nations League finals stage, but have since each pulled out through injury. Striker Mateo Retegui may well start again again for the Azzurri after scoring against Malta and England respectively back in March, whilst a number of players such as Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni, Matteo Darmian and Nicola Barella will no doubt be assessed fitness wise after joining the squad late following their participation in the Champions League final last weekend.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Donnarumma; Acerbi, Bonucci, Bastoni; Di Lorenzo, Barella, Jorginho, Verratti, Dimarco; Retegui, Raspadori
UNAVAILABLE: Berardi (Injured), Pessina (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
When you factor in that Luis de la Fuente has had such little time in post as head coach of the Spain senior side compared to Roberto Mancini, who has been in charge of Italy now for over five years, the expectation is that Italy will come into this semi-final with more cohesion and coordination within their squad. They’ll know exactly what Mancini wants from him both tactically as a team and as individuals, which should bode well for them here. Italy have significantly more to prove than Spain and know how to dig in defensively against a Spanish outfit likely to have far more possession. Therefore, it looks a smart move to utilise the double chance market and back Italy to either draw or win this semi-final over the 90 minutes.
TIP: DOUBLE CHANCE – DRAW/ITALY
