24th June 2012
England vs Italy Betting: England can edge out the Italians in a tight quarter final
The last of the quarter finals at Euro 2012 is the one which matters for English people worldwide as England take on Italy in Kiev for the right to face Germany in Thursday’s semi final. England come into this match knowing they haven’t been beyond the quarter finals of an overseas major tournament since 1990 while Italy were world champions in 2006. Bookies can’t split these and even the draw is only 2/1 with Ladbrokes.
England made it into this match by virtue of winning Group D, overcoming France over three matches if not in the match the two played against each other. England won their last two matches and are unbeaten in the tournament and look hard to beat. Roy Hodgson recalled Wayne Rooney for the win over the Ukraine and he looks set to pick the same eleven players for this match as they look for a major semi final of any kind for the first time since 1996.
Italy go into the game off the back of a comfortable 2-0 win over the Republic of Ireland and having got a 1-1 draw against Spain in their opening match they will feel they are playing well. Mario Balotelli is well known to English fans and he scored one of the goals of the tournament when Italy beat Ireland. The Italians will be without defender Giorgio Chiellini who has picked up a thigh injury.
This has tight written all over it. I fancy England to go through but I’m not wholly convinced it will be in the 90 minutes. While Italy have gone well in the tournament I do think England can breach their back line whereas England really do look good at the back bar the odd slip against Sweden. That Sweden game will have acted as a wake up call though and with everything on the line and no second chances now I think England will be fully switched on at the back and with the likes of Rooney, Welbeck and Gerrard going forward they can eventually do what is needed to book their place in Warsaw on Thursday night.
Back England to qualify for a 4/10 stake at 1.95 with Bet365
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Author: 'Arry Allsports
