17 October 2023 , 10:51
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England can book their place at next summer's European Championship finals by seeing off Italy at Wembley in a crunch Group C showdown.
Winners by a 2-1 scoreline over the Italians in Naples in March, Gareth Southgate's men can complete the double over the Azzurri, and repeat that scoreline.
England to win 2-1 -
It's a game with far more riding on it for Italy, now under the management of Luciano Spalletti.
Even if England mess up tonight then their next game, at home to Malta next month, should turn into a routine win.
For Italy, however, defeat would leave them on 10 points and quite probably third in the table - Ukraine would leapfrog them with a win or draw in Malta.
England, pretty much unbeatable at home these days, are and with so many of their big guns available after missing the 1-0 friendly success over Australia, they have to be confident.
Italy, in contrast, are plagued by absentees and while thrashing Malta 4-0 in Bari was a perfect preparation, this is an entirely different challenge against a really confident opponent.
And Italy's last away match - their first under Spalletti - ended in a hugely disappointing, and potentially disastrous, 1-1 draw in Skopje against North Macedonia.
Italy will have to be positive and in Sassuolo's Domenico Berardi - scorer of a brace against Malta making it seven in eight this season - they have a striker in good form.
Spalletti's side will make chances and can take one, though England, with hot-shots Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane rested after missing the win over the Aussies, will make more opportunities and can nick the win.
Jude Bellingham to score any time –
Berardi is in rich scoring for Sassuolo and Italy and Kane is flying for Bayern and England with 10 goals to his name this term.
But both strikers are lagging behind Bellingham in the goalscoring stakes and the Real Madrid ace can grab his 12th goal of the campaign at Wembley.
Bellingham, who was a classy midfielder with a decent scoring reputation at Borussia Dortmund, suddenly looks utterly dead-eye in front of goal since moving to the Spanish capital and Southgate will expect him to be a threat around the box with Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips holding the fort further back.
The 20-year-old will effectively sit in a No.10 role flanked by Jack Grealish and Phil Foden with Kane ahead of him, in what is one of the most formidable attacking units in Europe.
Bellingham catches the eye at to score first and also to notch at any time.
Over 4.5 cards in the match –
It was fiery enough when Italy and England met in March in Naples with referee Srdan Jovanovic showing seven yellow cards and a red for Luke Shaw.
There were five yellows on Italy's last visit - a 0-0 draw at Molineux in the Nations League last year - and six (four in the first 90 minutes) during the 1-1 draw at Wembley in the Euro 2020 final over two years ago.
Referee Clement Turpin, a man who memorably showed 10 yellow cards when Bayern and Manchester City met in the Champions League in April, takes charge at Wembley.
In a high-stakes encounter between two battle-weary rivals, expect the Frenchman to be busy and show at least five cards.
England Team News
Rice, Bellingham and Kane, left on the bench against Australia on Friday, will be restored to the starting line-up.
John Stones came off the bench against the Aussies to prove his fitness and is set for a first start since the Community Shield in August. Bukayo Saka is out.
Italy Team News
Juventus forward Federico Chiesa and Lazio frontman Mattia Zaccagni are out injured. Newcastle's Sandro Tonali and Aston Villa's Nicolo Zanioli have left the squad.
England v Italy Stats
England are unbeaten in seven matches in 2023 with six wins, including a 2-1 success in Italy in March.
Italy are unbeaten in four, new head coach Spalletti having taken seven points out of nine from his three matches in charge.
Head-to-Head
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.