Henry Roldán
The historic rivalry between Spain vs Italy will add another chapter to their book when they face off in the UEFA Nations League semifinals on Thursday.
The Red Fury made it to this stage after defeating Portugal in the last matchday, leaving them at the top of Group 2. On the other hand, the Azzurri did the same in the final fixture by defeating Hungary and finishing at the top of Group 3. It’s worth noting that the last time these two nations faced each other was in the 2020/21 Nations League semifinals, when Spain emerged victorious with a 2-1 scoreline.
Without further ado, JefeBet is bringing you the best preview of this exciting and decisive match between Spain and Italy, which also comes with an excellent welcome bonus from DraftKings.
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Betting Preview for the Spain vs Italy Nations League Semi-Finals on June 15, 2023
- Where: De Grolsch Veste – Enschede, The Netherlands.
- When: Thursday, June 15, 2023, 2:45 PM E.T.
- Moneyline: Spain (+125) | Draw (+215) | Italy (+235).
- Over/Under (2.5): Over (+135) | Under (-190).
- Both Teams Score: Yes (-105) | No (-135).
All odds are provided by Draftkings
Betting on Spain(+125 on DraftKings)
The team coached by Luis de la Fuente has a great opportunity to shine this Thursday as they pursue their second consecutive appearance in the Nations League final. The Red Fury previously defeated Italy 1-2, giving them the chance to face France in the 2020/21 final, which they unfortunately lost.
Nonetheless, this Spanish team is vastly different from the previous one. The current team has lost three of their last four official games during a significant restructuring of their squad.
There’s been a changing of the guard; players such as Busquets, Ramos, and Jordi Alba have left the team. Thus, they will be relying on young talents such as Rodri, Gavi, Aymeric Laporte, Dani Olmo, and others.
Although they are slightly favored to win the match, they must demonstrate that these fresh faces are capable of working together to maintain the prestige that Spain gained after winning the 2010 World Cup. It won’t be easy, especially as they are missing two essential members of this youthful squad due to injury: Pedri and Alejandro Balde.
Probable lineup (4-3-3): Kepa Arrizabalaga; Dani Carvajal, Nacho, Aymeric Laporte, Jordi Alba; Rodri, Fabián, Gavi; Marco Asensio, Joselu, Dani Olmo.
Semifinals
Betting on Italy(+235 on DraftKings)
Roberto Mancini’s Italy is not so different from their current opponent. They are both undergoing a significant generational change, which has seen them fall from grace in just a matter of months.
After winning the 2020 Euro Cup and basking in glory, the Italian team failed to reach the Nations League final, losing to Spain, and also failed to qualify for the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Undeniably, the Azzurri is going through a significant change in their squad. However, many of them have been playing together for a while, so it’s time to see some results. The good news for Mancini is that his defensive line, practically the entire Inter Milan team, has had an excellent performance recently in the Champions League, providing a solid defense.
Still, just like Spain, Italy’s significant weakness is their attack. The Italian-Argentinian Mateo Retegui has scored in both games he’s played since joining the national team, and is an excellent omen for a team that heavily relies on Ciro Immobile’s skills upfront.
Although it’s uncertain whether Retegui will start, his participation in the game is almost guaranteed. That’s why it’s a smart choice to head over to DraftKings, where you can bet on him scoring, with odds of (-185) that could earn you up to $54 for every $100 you wager.
Probable lineup (5-3-2): Gianluigi Donnarumma; Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Alessandro Bastoni, Francesco Acerbi, Leonardo Bonucci, Leonardo Spinazzola; Jorginho, Nicolò Barella, Marco Verratti; Federico Chiesa, Ciro Immobile.
El Jefe’s Prediction on Spain vs Italy
Both teams come into this game with many uncertainties, and for some, it may seem like a mere formality in a tournament that has only monetary implications. However, for others, it’s an excellent opportunity to shake off the current feelings of uncertainty affecting both nations.
Furthermore, the solid defensive form of both countries and some question marks in their respective attacks suggest that this could be a closely contested battle with an exciting climax, likely in extra time.
Another telling stat that indicates what might happen this Thursday is that in seven of the last ten encounters between these teams, the game ended with fewer than three goals in the first 90 minutes of play. Therefore, your best bet is to go to DraftKings and bet on the Under 2.5 goals in the match, with odds of (-190) that could earn you up to $53 for every $100 you wager.
Prediction: Under in the first 90 minutes (ESP 1 – ITA 1) | Bet here for the Under.
Bet on the above prediction or the one of your choice, and get a free instant bonus by clicking on the banner below this text.
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