Euro 2024: Italy v Albania - Match Preview & Odds
Holders Italy begin the defence of their European crown on Saturday as they take on Albania in Group B of Euro 2024
Holders Italy begin the defence of their European crown on Saturday as they take on Albania in Group B of Euro 2024. At betting.bet we will be previewing each and every game taking place during this summer’s showpiece event, providing betting tips, match insights and the latest betting odds. Odds for Italy v Albania are provided by our betting partners at Betway.
Italy Form & Team News
Italy’s preparation for Euro 2024 has been far from ideal with very few nations enduring such an injury-disrupted buildup. Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella is the latest fitness doubt ahead of Friday's opener.
Italy head into Euro 2024 unbeaten in six matches having completed their tournament preparations with successive clean sheets in matches against Turkey (0-0) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (1-0). Davide Frattesi claimed the winning goal in Italy’s win over Bosnia on Sunday to take his scoring tally up to a respectable five goals in fifteen internationals.
Albania’s Dream Team
A sequence of one win in eleven matches throughout 2022 prompted Albania to make a managerial change, recruiting former Arsenal and Brazil defender as head coach in January 2023. Sylvinho isn’t the only former Premier League star on the Albanian coaching staff as he drafted in former Manchester City and West Ham United defender Pablo Zabaleta and ex-Middlesbrough midfielder Doriva as his assistants.
Sylvinho lost 1-0 at Poland in his first match as Albania boss but they have since gone seven competitive internationals without defeat. Notable wins over the likes of Poland (2-0) and Czech Republic (3-0) helped Albania top their qualifying group and they could be real dark horses in the ‘Group of Death’. Albania warmed up for just their second major international tournament with back-to-back wins over Liechtenstein (3-0) and Azerbaijan (3-1).
Betting Tips
Italy are one of the real superpowers in world football but we’re not overly optimistic about their chances this summer. Many of the Albanian squad ply their trade in Italy and winning on Saturday is a real possibility. Albania are a huge 15/2 to win whilst for a more conservative bet the Albania / draw double chance is priced at 2/1.
Italian clubs AC Milan and Bologna are amongst a host of clubs vying for the signature of Chelsea forward Armando Broja and the 22-year-old could lead the line against the current European champions on Saturday. Broja has 5 goals in 21 senior international appearances and is priced at 19/4 to score at any time in his nation’s opening fixture.
Whilst Gianluca Scamacca finished the domestic season strongly at Atalanta, the 25-year-old has only scored one goal in 16 matches for Italy. Scoring goals is a real concern for Italy with none of their Euro 2024 squad in double-figures for international goals. Under 2.5 match goals could be a very shrewd choice on Saturday and this selection is priced at 31/40.
Match Odds
| Italy | Draw | Albania |
|---|---|---|
| 2/5 | 7/2 | 15/2 |
Predicted Match Result: Italy 0-1 Albania (12/1)
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