UEFA Nations League Semi-Finals, Tips and Previews
Italy vs. Spain
October 7th
A huge rematch of the Euro 2020 semi-final ensues when Italy hosts Spain at San Siro in a bid to qualify for the final of the UEFA Nations League.
Spain will still be burning from the sting of a penalty shootout defeat in London, while the Italians are riding high with another trophy to shine in the cabinet after the Euro 2020 success.
The Italians still hold sway to an incredible undefeated run of 37 matches, which is the longest ever in international football.
Expect both teams to field near full-strength teams with the likes of Federico Chiesa, Gigi Donnarumma, Lorenzo Insigne and Leonardo Bonucci to play to a part for the Azzurri, while Ferran Torres, Sergio Busquets, Unai Simon and Cesar Azpilicueta all likely to play for Spain.
The Spaniards actually dominated general when they met the Azzurri in that famous semi-final only a few months ago and were stiff not to win the shootout.
But the Italians on their home soil are a different proposition all together.
We saw what Roberto Mancini’s men were capable of in Italy during Euro 2020 as it battered and held every opposing nation goalless throughout the group stage.
It will be tough to see Spain controlling the ball and possession at it did in the Euro 2020 tournament and that should allow Italy enough time to settle and find its groove.
Chiesa has been in career-best form in 2021 and if he can continue his purple patch, it will go a long way to adding to this already unbelievable unbeaten record.
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Italy head to head at $2.20
Belgium vs. France
October 8th
Two of the best European nations lock horns when Belgium and France go head to head against each other.
The year of 2021 has proven underwhelming for both teams with Roberto Martinez and Didier Deschamps having disappointing endings to their Euro 2020 campaigns.
France was knocked out by Switzerland in Euro 2020, while Belgium failed to handle Italy.
However, the form of Belgium in the UEFA Nationals League has been quite strong as has the form of France.
Belgium still ranks as the number one team in the world, but it can safely be argued that the 2018 World Cup Champions boast the more talented squad on paper.
Deschamps, despite bringing glory to Les Bleus in Russia, has been under the pump and will have a point to prove, so expect a very strong French squad to be announced.
The same can be said for Martinez and he will be relying on goal-scoring machine Romelu Lukaku and midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne to provide the winning formula.
This is a really tough game to predict from a head to head perspective, but we are expecting there to be goals galore.
