Italy vs Spain (July 6): Prediction, Team News, Betting Tips - Euro 2020 semi-finals

Italy and Spain meet in the first Euro 2020 semi-final in what promises to be one of the most attractive games of the tournament. Here is our preview, prediction, team news and betting tips of the match.

Charlotte Pho

July 04, 2021 | 12:25

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Italy and Spain meet in a titanic Euro 2020 semi-final on Tuesday after coming through draining quarter-final ties.

The Azzurri look in fearsome form, making in 15 wins in a row and 32 games unbeaten by dispatching the world’s top-ranked team Belgium in Munich.

Spain appeared to have found their scoring touch but were back to their profligate best as they scrapped past Switzerland on penalties.

It’s to the home of football next week as they face off for a place in the Final.

Date, kick-off time and venue

Photo: AP

Italy vs Spain is scheduled for an 8pm BST kick-off on Tuesday, July 6, 2021.

The match will be held at Wembley Stadium, in London.

Team news

Italy Team News - The Full Squad List

Italy will be without Leonardo Spinazzola after the wide player was stretchered off against Belgium.

Italy manager Mancini cut his preliminary group of 33 players down to 28.

Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini will captain the side, one of seven survivors from Euro 2016 along with Alessandro Florenzi, Immobile, Salvatore Sirigu, Leonardo Bonucci, Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi.

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan), Alex Meret (Napoli), Salvatore Sirigu (Torino)

Defenders: Francesco Acerbi (Lazio), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Emerson Palmieri (Chelsea), Alessandro Florenzi (Paris), Leonardo Spinazzola (Roma), Rafael Toloi (Atalanta)

Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Jorginho (Chelsea), Manuel Locatelli (Sassuolo), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Stefano Sensi (Inter), Marco Verratti (Paris)

Forwards: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus), Federico Chiesa (Juventus), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Sassuolo).

Spain Team News - Spain’s full 24-man Euro 2020 squad

Spain withdrew Pablo Sarabia at half-time of their win over Switzerland, it remains to be seen if that was a precaution or due to injury.

Goalkeepers: David de Gea (Manchester United), Unai Simón (Athletic), Robert Sánchez (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Defenders: José Gayà (Valencia), Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Pau Torres (Villarreal), Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City), Eric García (Manchester City), Diego Llorente (Leeds United), César Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Marcos Llorente (Atlético)

Midfielders: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Rodri Hernández (Manchester City), Pedri (Barcelona), Thiago Alcántara (Liverpool), Koke (Atlético), Fabián Ruiz (Napoli)

Forwards: Dani Olmo (Leipzig), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Gerard Moreno (Villarreal), Álvaro Morata (Juventus), Ferran Torres (Manchester City), Adama Traoré (Wolves), Pablo Sarabia (Paris).

Italy will be without Leonardo Spinazzola after the wide player was stretchered off against Belgium.

Spain withdrew Pablo Sarabia at half-time of their win over Switzerland, it remains to be seen if that was a precaution or due to injury.

Italy will be without Leonardo Spinazzola CREDIT: Shutterstock

Italy vs Spain - Predictions

Italy are the bookmaker's favourites as things stand.

Italy will be buoyed by their victory over Belgium, an opponent that was always going to test them in attack as well as in defence. Roberto Mancini is probably going to make a couple of changes to his starting eleven for the semi-final, following the injury to Spinazzola who looks set to miss the rest of the tournament. The Roma full-back has been one of Italy's key players both in defence and going forward and he will be missed in the semi-final.

Spain were taken to extra time for the second game running and this time they needed penalties to earn their place in the semi-final. Luis Enrique's side could and should have won the game within the 90-minutes after they created a number of clearcut chances and failed to covert any of them. This ability to create goals has helped Spain progress through Euro 2020 but they are going to have to be more economical in front of goal if they want to outscore Italy.

Spain were back to their toothless best against Switzerland, scrapping past them on penalties after missing a host of chances, and coming up against an inspired Yann Sommer.

Italy, on the other hand, were pushed all the way by Belgium but still looked a fearsome threat.

There’s only one winner in my eyes and the Azzurri should wrap it up in normal time, 3-1.

Betting tips

Tip 1: BTTS

We're expecting goals in this game at both ends of the pitch as both teams look good going forward and have both failed to keep clean sheets in their last two outings. Both teams have scored in each of Italy's last two matches, both of which ended in 2-1 scorelines, while three of Spain's last four fixtures have seen both teams score.

Tip 2: Over 2.5 Goals

The last meeting between these two famous footballing nations produced over 2.5 goals, with Spain claiming a 3-0 win back in 2017. Over 2.5 goals have also been produced in five of Italy's and three of Spain's last six matches in all competitions, so you can see why we're predicting goals in the semi-final.

Tip 3: Italy to Qualify

Our money is going on Italy to progress into the final simply based on their overall performance compared to that of Spain. Italy have looked very strong at the back, conceding just two goals at Euro 2020 so far, while Spain are prone to mistakes in defence as we have seen in their last two fixtures. Now, Spain have relied on their ability to create a lot of goalscoring opportunities but their conversion rate hasn't been as impressive and this Italian defence isn't going to be as generous as the other teams they have faced.

Is there history between the teams?

Antonio Conte's Italy got the better of Spain in their last tournament meeting at Euro 2016, to partially avenge Spain's 4-0 thrashing of Italy in the 2012 final. Beating Italy on penalties at the quarter-final stage, with Cesc Fabregas scoring the winning spot kick, was a crucial moment on the way to Spain ending their tournament hoodoo in 2008. Roberto Baggio scored a late winner when Italy knocked Spain out of the 1994 World Cup.