International Friendly – Italy vs San Marino Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When does Italy vs San Marino kick off? Friday 28th May, 2021 – 19:45 (UK)
Where is Italy vs San Marino being played? Sardegna Arena, Cagliari
Where can I get tickets for Italy vs San Marino? A lot of international games are being played without spectators but the situation is changing rapidly so it is worth checking official ticketing websites for updates
What TV channel is Italy vs San Marino on? This match will not be televised live in the UK
Where can I stream Italy vs San Marino? This match cannot be streamed live in the UK
THE PREDICTION
This is a bizarre one but is also something of a theme for Italy ahead of their recent major tournaments in 2016 and 2014. Warm-up fixtures against the weakest sides in Europe appears to be counter-intuitive. In 2014, they drew 1-1 against Luxembourg and in 2016 they faced off against two of the 31 sides to not qualify for the Euros in Finland and Scotland. Roberto Mancini will have a couple of days to trim his 33-man squad following this match so it will be important for the players. San Marino, as with all the minor nations throughout Europe, have made slow progress since the creation of the UEFA Nations League and the development of modern day coaching but it would be daft to suggest this will be another Luxembourg 2014 situation for the Italians. They will win, it might be lower-scoring than most would anticipate but it will still be extremely comfortable for what is essentially the final training session ahead of Mancini’s final squad announcement.
