Two European heavyweights will butt heads on Thursday in the second of the Nations League semi-finals as Spain take on Italy.
It’s a repeat of the 2021 semi-final, in which Spain ended Italy’s record 37-game unbeaten streak, and both sides will feel as though they have a point to prove after some unconvincing form in recent months.
Spain lost away to Scotland last time out after a bitterly disappointing World Cup which saw them dumped out in the round of 16, while Italy, who didn’t even make it to Qatar, fell to England back in March.
Here’s all you need to know about this one.
Spain vs Italy H2H Results (Last Five Games)
Current Form (Last Five Games)
|
Country |
TV Channel/Live Stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
Viaplay Sports 1 |
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United States |
FOX Sports 1 / ViX |
|
Canada |
DAZN |
Rodri is in the squad but may not see too many minutes just a few days after returning from his treble celebrations with Manchester City.
There’s no Pedri as the Barcelona midfielder remains sidelined through injury.
Potential debutants: Fran Garcia, Robin Le Normand
Spain predicted lineup vs Italy (4-3-3): Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Alba; Zubimendi, Merino, Gavi; Asensio, Morata, Olmo
Domenico Berardi and Matteo Pessina have both pulled out of Roberto Mancini’s squad through injury.
Inter quartet Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni, Matteo Darmian and Nicola Barella will all need late fitness tests after their Champions League final outings just a few days earlier.
Potential debutant: Guglielmo Vicario
Italy predicted lineup vs Spain (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Acerbi, Bastoni, Dimarco; Jorginho, Barella, Verratti; Chiesa, Retegui, Pellegrini
You feel like both teams really need this. Neither are in real turmoil just yet but, having already tumbled towards the bottom of the top ten in FIFA’s global rankings, there’s an awareness that both Spain and Italy have something to prove here.
Spain are still finding themselves under new manager Luis de la Fuente, whose reign began with the retirement of a real lynchpin in Sergio Busquets. It’s that turbulence which may be Spain’s undoing in this one, with Mancini’s Italy squad no strangers to one-another.
Expect an entertaining game but Italy look best-placed to get the win and advance to the final.
Prediction: Spain 1-2 Italy
