Read our prediction for Argentina vs Italy below. This preview was written by a sport journalist who is specialised in betting tips and predictions. Use our betting tips for the match between Argentina vs Italy and you can increase your winnings!
Argentina vs Italy Prediction & Betting tips
What sounds like the final of a World Cup, at least this year will not be a reality. For some may have forgotten it, but Italy could not qualify for the tournament in Russia. The Squadra Azzurra will follow the biggest sporting event this year from the couch. And yet, the Italians should be proud enough to show in the test matches against the World Cup participants that they still belong to the largest football nations. In the Etihad Stadium of Manchester City, Italy wants to defend against Argentina.
Argentina:
Arguably, Argentina qualify for the World Cup in Russia this year. After the Albiceleste lost in the qualifiers in South America first in Bolivia and then came in Uruguay and at home against Venezuela and Peru each did not come out after a draw, the final day of the match had to decide on the participation in the final round in Russia. In Ecuador Argentina fell behind not even a minute, but in the end it was a towering Lionel Messi, who made the 3-1 victory single-handedly with three goals and shot his team to the World Cup. A defeat would have meant the end for the two-time world champion. Overall, the qualification was unsatisfactory with seven wins, seven draws and four defeats. In the end, the backlog on archrival Brazil was a proud thirteen points.
Following the qualification, Argentina first tested in Russia against World Cup hosts Russia and won 1-0, but fouled a few days later against Nigeria. Without Messi, but with including Sergio Agüero, Paulo Dybala and Angel Di Maria lost Argentina despite a 2-0 lead 2-4. Argentina does not have a good record against the Italian selection. Of the fourteen meetings so far, Argentina have won only four and lost six. There were three of the four successes in friendlies, most recently twice in a row, but already in the years 2013 and 2001! Argentina once won the World Cup finals, but the Albiceleste were only penalized in the 1990 semi-final – but in Italy, which caused a great pain in the Squadra Azzurra.
Italy:
Of the last sixteen internationals, Italy has won ten. There was a draw four times and only twice did the four-time world champion lose out. Sounds like a strong record of a big football nation. She is soberly considered, but it was precisely the two mentioned bankruptcies that left a whole country in mourning. For one of the two bankruptcies was a 0: 3 in the World Cup qualifying Group G in Spain, which was in the end the main reason why Italy finished second only in the final and in the playoffs had. There was then the other defeat. In the first leg in Sweden, Italy lost 1-0, which the Squadra Azzurra in the second leg at home, despite a odds of 26: 4 and 75% ball possession could not turn. Thus Italy missed for the first time since 1958 again a World Cup.
After the failed qualifier goalkeeper legend Gianluigi Buffon announced his retirement from the national team, from which he stepped back but recently. The resignation of the resignation of now 40-year-old Buffon should be a kind of signal effect. Especially in the offensive, it lapsed in the Italian selection last. Despite strikers such as Ciro Immobile, who tops the scoring list in Serie A with 24 goals after 29 games, Italy have not scored in their last two games. In general, the Squadra Azzurra reach in the past five internationals against Israel, Macedonia, Albania and twice Sweden only three hits.
Argentina vs Italy head to head matches
14.08.13 FI Italy Argentina 1 : 2
27.02.01 FI Italy Argentina 1 : 2
03.07.90 WC Italy Argentina 1 : 2 (1 : 1)
05.06.86 WC Italy Argentina 1 : 1
29.06.82 WC Italy Argentina 2 : 1