Initial Observations
La Roja’s recent performances could have been better. They play Italy on Thursday. And in front of a pivotal year, their supporters will be looking for a significant response from the players. Four out of the previous five games played by La Roja in all competitions have ended in losses. They will thus try to recover well.
Italy, on the other side, has won three of their past four games. But when the two teams don’t play in Italy, they don’t do well versus Spain. Watching if the UEFA Euro 2020 champions can scrape together a victory in this match will be intriguing. Before the UEFA Nations League semifinals, The Hard Tackle rules over both teams.
Head-to-Head
When both the teams faced off in the 2021 Nations League finals semifinal, Spain broke Italy’s record-breaking 37-game undefeated streak. Four of Spain’s past five matches in all competitions have ended in losses. In their last five games across all leagues, Italy has won three of them, with one team winning each time. In the past six games between these two teams, 14 goals have been scored. In four of the past six games between these two clubs, both teams have scored in the final minute. Also Read:Croatia surprises the Netherlands to advance to the Nations League final.
Spain Team News
As the full-backs in this situation, Dani Carvajal and Jordi Alba will try to contribute offensively as well. After renouncing his international allegiance to France, Robin Le Normand may make his debut for Spain. He will probably start next to Aymeric Laporte. Rodri, the Champions League winner, will start with Martin Zubimendi in the center of the midfield.
The two players will try to maintain control over the game’s tempo and safeguard the central defenders. Gavi and Dani Olmo, who will be used as inverted offensive midfielders, are expected to sometimes drift wide and drop into the midfield. The center attacking midfielder is believed to be Marco Asensio, who will shortly join Paris Saint-Germain.
Italy Team News
With a completely fit roster at his disposal, Roberto Mancini is set to start Italy in a 4-3-3 configuration. In goal, Gianluigi Donnarumma will debut. Alessandro Bastoni and Francesco Acerbi will start at the center of the defense, with Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Federico Dimarco serving as the full-backs. With Nicolo Barella and Marco Verratti on each side of him, Jorginho will try to hold down the center of the Italian midfield.
Barella and Verratti will try to manage the game’s speed while sprinkling in some originality. Federico Chiesa and Lorenzo Pellegrini will be used as Italy’s wide attackers, while Mateo Retegui will start at the front of the line. The choices on the show will include Giacomo Raspadori, Wilfried Gnonto, and Ciro Immobile.
Predicted Lineup and Score
Spain’s Probable Lineup: (4-2-3-1): Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Alba; Rodri, Zubimendi; Gavi, Asensio, Olmo; Morata
Italy’s Probable Lineup: (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Acerbi, Bastoni, Dimarco; Barella, Jorginho, Verratti; Chiesa, Retegui, Pellegrini
Italy:Spain
1:2
