Euro 2020 QF predictions and probable starting XI: Belgium vs Italy

belgium vs italy euro 2020 prediction (1)

The European Championship quarter-final draw has thrown up a huge clash between continental football heavyweights Belgium and Italy on Friday.

Munich is the neutral venue for the pair, both of whom scraped through stern assessments in the Round of 16.

Thorgan Hazard scored the only goal as the Belgians squeezed past the last onslaught of reigning champions Portugal in Seville.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Co threw the kitchen sink at the Red Devils, but couldn’t hit back as they bowed out at the first knockout stage.

Coach Roberto Martinez and his ‘golden generation’ breathed a mighty sigh of relief, then, in what could be the squad’s final fling at lifting a piece of major silverware.

It was even tighter for the Italians, who needed extra-time to edge out dogged Austria at Wembley Stadium.

Goalless after 90 minutes, youngster Federico Chiesa and Matteo Pessina were both on target before the Austrians pulled one back to put the frighteners on in the dying minutes.

Both nations had earlier breezed through the pool stage.

The Azzurri set the tone on the opening night of the tournament with a commanding victory over Turkey, before seeing off Switzerland and Wales to ensure a perfect Group A record.

Martinez’s men, meanwhile, recorded victories over northern trio Russia, Denmark and Finland to top Group B with consumate ease.

The bad news is that top class duo Kevin de Bruyne and Eden Hazard are both doubtful for the quarter-final after hobbling off against the Portuguese.

Dries Mertens and Yannick Carrasco are the most likely to step in if either or both of the pair don’t make it.

Veteran Italian captain Giorgio Chiellini could be in line for his comeback, having tweaked a hamstring earlier in the group phase of the tournament.

Chiesa, meanwhile, may well have forced his way into the thinking of coach Roberto Mancini.

Euro 2020 quarter-final prediction: Belgium vs Italy

Prediction methodology explained: The expected win percentage is based off publicly available odds. For example, if a team’s odds are 2.30, the expected chance of winning is 43%. If the odds are 1.62 the expected chance of winning is 62% and so on. These are accurate at the time of writing, but are subject to change. Where there is no value listed, the odds were not available at the time of writing.

belgium vs italy euro 2020 qf prediction

Probable Belgium Starting XI: Thibaut Courtois, Toby Alderweireld, Thomas Vermaelen, Jan Vertonghen, Thomas Meunier, Youri Tielmans, Axel Witsel, Thorgan Hazard, Dries Mertens, Yannick Carrasco, Romelu Lukaku.

Probable Italy Starting XI: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Spinazzola, Marco Verratti, Jorginho, Nicolo Barella, Federico Chiesa, Ciro Immobile, Lorenzo Insigne.