Belgium vs Italy Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 UEFA Nations League | League A Group 2
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It is a must win game for Domenico Tedesco’s Belgium if they want to give themselves a chance of pushing into the top two and the quarter-finals of the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Thursday 14th November, 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
BELGIUM PREVIEW: PRESSURE ON TEDESCO
Domenico Tedesco is already under pressure as the manager of the Belgian national team after a poor showing at UEFA EURO 2024 and the Red Devils have been dealing with issues between Tedesco and senior players, such as Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
The Belgians started with an unconvincing 3-1 defeat of Israel in Hungary before defeats to France sandwiched a 2-2 draw against Italy in Rome in which they were 2-0 down before the Azzurri went down to ten men.
ITALY PREVIEW: NEW LOOK AZZURRI
Former Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti were also underwhelming at UEFA EURO 2024 but the four-time world champions have been much-improved during the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League campaign where they sit at the top after collecting ten points from four matches.
They went behind inside 12 seconds against France in their opening match before coming from behind to win 3-1 in Paris. Since then they have beaten Israel twice either side of that aforementioned 2-2 draw against Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico.
BELGIUM TEAM NEWS: ATTACKING INJURIES
As well as the absence of Courtois, Belgium are also missing key attacking duo Charles De Ketelaere and Manchester City man Jeremy Doku due to injury issues.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Casteels; Debast, Faes, Theate, Castagne; Mangala, Tielemans; Bakayoko, Vermeeren, Trossard; Lukaku
UNAVAILABLE: Courtois (Personal reasons), Seys (Injured), Fofana (Injured), De Ketelaere (Injured), Doku (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
ITALY TEAM NEWS: MIDFIELD ISSUES
Italy have plenty of options in midfield but Torino man Samuele Ricci is out injured, whilst the experienced Lorenzo Pellegrini is still missing through suspension for this week.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Vicario; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori; Cambiaso, Frattesi, Fagioli, Tonali, Dimarco; Raspadori, Retegui
UNAVAILABLE: Pellegrini (Suspended), Ricci (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
BELGIUM VS ITALY PREDICTION
Belgium remain without Kevin De Bruyne, despite the national team captain returning to Manchester City action before the break. Romelu Lukaku is often inspired on the international stage but he is leading a dysfunctional Belgian side into battle against an Italian side with emerging talent that appears well-suited to the Spalletti style and system. Backing the Azzurri would seem a good value bet for this one.
BELGIUM VS ITALY TIP: ITALY TO WIN
