Euro 2020 Preview: Italy vs Turkey, key stats, line-ups, odds, prediction

Euro 2020 Preview: Italy vs Turkey, key stats, line-ups, odds, prediction

UEFA Nations League Sensi and Insigne shines in Italy's 1-1 draw against Bosnia

The long-awaited Euro 2020 will kick off this weekend as Italy play host to Turkey in the first match of the group stages of the 2021 European Championship.

Stadium: Stadio Olimpico (Rome)

Key Statistics

Italy are appearing in their 10th ever UEFA European Championship. They are unbeaten in 27 games heading into this game(W22, D5). The home team are also on a run of eight games without conceding a goal.

Turkey enter this match unbeaten in six games. They have won five of their last ten games but have kept just one clean sheet. This is their fifth appearance in the European Championship. 

Italy 

After missing out on a place in the 2018 World Cup, Italy’s journey to redemption begins this Friday when they welcome Turkey to Rome in a repeat of the Euro 2000 opening fixture when they beat Turkey 2-1. 

They will be hoping for a repeat of that performance when they entertain Turke 21 years to that day. 

The Azzurri form heading into this tournament makes them one of the favourites for the trophy as they are unbeaten in 27 games. A win here will take them closer to equalling an Italian record set in 1939 (30 games unbeaten) as they look to top the group.

Eight clean sheets from the last eight games mean that Roberto Mancini‘s side are easily the competition’s tightest defence. They will hope to keep another clean sheet here as they’re also looking to break an Italian record of 12 straight matches without conceding that it has stood since the 1970s.

Possible line-ups 

Gianluigi Donnarumma, Alessandro Florenzi, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Emerson Palmieri, Nicolo Barella, Jorginho, Manuel Locatelli, Federico Chiesa, Ciro Immobile, Lorenzo Insigne.

Turkey

After an impressive qualifying campaign, Turkey enters this tournament as one of the competition’s dark horses. 

Senol Gunes’ side is filled with exciting players led by the in-form Burak Yilmaz who has been tipped to do big things at this stage of the tournament. 

The Crescent Stars are heading into this tie on the back of a six-game unbeaten run and will fancy their chances against the Italians, who they have never beaten in ten tries (L7, D3).

They will hope to be lucky in their 11th try as they look to begin on a high note and perhaps finish in second place on the table behind favourites Italy. 

Possible line-ups 

Ugurcan Cakir, Zeki Celik, Merih Demiral, Caglar Soyuncu, Umut Meras, Okay Yokuslu, Cengiz Under, Ozan Tufan, Hakan Calhanoglu, Yusuf Yazici, Burak Yilmaz.

Betting Odds

Italy : Draw : Turkey :: 1.50 : 3.75 : 8.00

Italy GoalTurkey GoalBetting Odds
105.50
206.50
007.50
118.00
2110.00
3011.00

Prediction

Italy 2-1 Turkey