Azzurri advance to quarter-finals

Needing just a point to secure a place in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals, Italy will face Belgium as Group A pot 2 draws to a close this Thursday.

The Azzurri only need to prevent the hosts from winning at the Stade Roi Baudouin, while Belgium, with just four points, must win if they are to have any hope of progressing.

Latest Belgium vs Italy team information

Belgium's German-Italian coach Domenico Tedesco will be without a host of key players this week, despite welcoming back top scorer Romelu Lukaku, who withdrew from the squad last month.

Captain Kevin De Bruyne leads a long list of absentees, including Thomas Meunier, Jeremy Doku, Charles De Ketelaere, Youri Tielemans and Malick Fofana, while Club Brugge defender Romeo Lavia and Maxim De Cuyper - who scored a stunning goal against Italy in October - are all doubts despite having joined up with the squad.

To make up for the shortage, Tedesco has called up Juventus' young talent Samuel Mbangula, along with Albert Sambi Lokonga, Killian Sardella and Arthur Vermeeren.

Italy also face personnel problems with Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori and Torino midfielder Samuele Ricci on the injury list, along with long-term absentees Gianluca Scamacca and Giorgio Scalvini - the Atalanta duo will not be back before 2025.

Manuel Locatelli has been called up to replace Ricci and will compete with Lazio's Nicolo Rovella in midfield, alongside Nicolo Barella, Davide Frattesi and Sandro Tonali. Roma captain Lorenzo Pellegrini has been left out of the squad.

In attack, in-form strikers Mateo Retegui and Moise Kean - who scored a hat-trick for Fiorentina last week - will compete for a starting spot under coach Luciano Spalletti, who may have to consider his options against a challenging opponent.

Latest predicted lineup for Belgium vs Italy

Belgium:

Casteels; Castagne, Debast, Faes, Theate; Mangala, Onana, Vermeeren; Bakayoko, Lukaku, Trossard

Italy:

Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Buongiorno, Bastoni; Cambiaso, Barella, Locatelli, Tonali, Dimarco; Raspadori; Retegui

Latest Belgium vs Italy football commentary

In their second meeting in a month, Belgium face France in the fourth matchday of Group 2, hoping to bring Les Bleus down this time after bitter defeats in both the Nations League and Euro 2024 qualifiers.

However, the Red Devils lost 1-2 in a dramatic match in Brussels, in which Youri Tielemans missed a penalty, and Lois Openda scored in first-half stoppage time, but a double from Randal Kolo Muani gave France the win.

Belgium previously came from behind to draw 2-2 in Italy despite playing for more than 50 minutes with just 10 men, and their only win to date has been a 3-1 win over Israel on neutral ground in September.

Domenico Tedesco's team currently sit third - five points behind France and six behind Italy - and look set to enter a relegation playoff to defend their place in League A.

To reach the knockout stages for the second time (Belgium previously finished third after losing to Italy in 2019), they need to finish in the top two of their group, which means the task on Thursday is clear: Belgium must win to keep their hopes of progressing alive.

If Belgium win, they will face Israel in Hungary in a thrilling final on Sunday. However, Belgium have not beaten Italy in a competitive match since 1972.

On the Italian side, after a poor title defense at the Euro, a new team under coach Luciano Spalletti has brought a breath of fresh air to Group 2, with 10 points gained after 4 matches to move closer to the quarter-finals.

The Azzurri will progress if they avoid defeat in Belgium. Last month, Italy surrendered a two-goal advantage to Belgium after Lorenzo Pellegrini was sent off, but held on to top the group and then beat Israel 4-1 at home thanks to a double from Giovanni Di Lorenzo and a penalty from Mateo Retegui.

Italy proved quick to adapt to Spalletti's new system after conceding an early goal at the Parc des Princes, and a dramatic comeback win over France proved to be a crucial stepping stone.

If they can't get things done in midweek, Italy still have a crucial game against France at the San Siro on Sunday evening, taking the pressure off their young squad. Captain Gianluigi Donnarumma, 25, is now one of the veterans, alongside stars like Retegui, Alessandro Bastoni and Sandro Tonali.

With Belgium's squad plagued by injuries and withdrawals, Romelu Lukaku could be a big crutch for the team. A draw would be enough for Italy to progress, and a draw seems like a fair result for both teams.

Belgium vs Italy score prediction

Based on the above football comments, we and the world's leading football sites have given the following results for the Belgium vs Italy match:

• Sportsmole: Belgium 2-2 Italy

• WhoScore: Belgium 2-1 Italy
• Our prediction: Belgium 1-1 Italy

When and where to watch Belgium vs Italy live?

To watch the Belgium vs Italy match live in the Nations League at 2:45 a.m. on November 15, viewers can watch on TV360 here, Mytv system here or on online sports channels. Wishing viewers happy football watching moments.

Source: https://baodaknong.vn/nhan-dinh-du-doan-bi-vs-italy-azzurri-tien-vao-tu-ket-234106.html