Belgium vs. Italy: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

When these two sides met last month, Italy raced to a comfortable 2-0 lead but were pegged back only after being reduced to ten men. Had the numbers remained even, it's fair to assume that Italy would have won that game.

Italy have won three and drawn one of their four games since Euro 2024 whereas Belgium have won just one of their four and have looked distinctly inferior to Italy in terms of performance levels.

Both sides have found the back of the net in all of Italy's last four games and three of Belgium's last four so we expect goals at both ends here, but it's hard to look past the Italians getting the job done in a game between two sides going in very different directions. Belgium 1-2 Italy.

Belgium take on Italy in the UEFA Nations League this week as the latter look to continue their impressive resurgence post-Euro 2024.

• Date: 14/11/2024
• Kick-off time: 19:45
• Location: King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels

Belgium currently sit 3rd in UEFA Nations League A, Group 2, with four points from four games. The last year or so has been tough on a Belgium side that has found it difficult to play to its potential. The squad is in a fairly difficult position, with many of its "Golden Generation" having aged out of the side, while the final remnants of the team that finished 3rd in the 2018 World Cup, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku mainly, are now well into their twilight years.

Belgium were one of the major disappointments at Euro 2016 and were dumped out in the round of 16 by France after delivering a very laboured showing in the group stages. As a result, pressure was starting to mount on Domenico Tedesco and that sentiment is only becoming more intense, with Belgium struggling to make a mark in their UEFA Nations League group.

Belgium no longer have a litany of world-class players to call upon but they still have some excellent talent and they have many high-ceiling youngsters coming through the system, so while there needs to be a cap on what can be realistically expected of this team right now, the expectation should still be in anticipation of a higher performance level than what's currently on show.

The defence has been a problem area of the pitch for Belgium since Vincent Kompany's retirement, and Tedesco has handed maiden call-ups to young defenders Joaquin Seys (19) and Matte Smets (20) in the hope that this will be the beginning of an integration process that will lead to two major contributors down the line.

All in all, the pressure is firmly on Tedesco's side to deliver a performance for the sake of their manager, as a defeat here could mark the beginning of the end of his reign.

Italy are currently top of UEFA Nations League A, Group 2, with ten points from four games. The Italians have been exceptionally impressive in this Nations League campaign and look well on course to finish the campaign as group winners.

Like Belgium, Italy were immensely disappointing at Euro 2024, being dumped out by Switzerland in the last 16 in what was one of the worst Italian performances at a major tournament in memory. However, Italy have bounced back from the doldrums in impressive fashion as they sit top of what is a very competitive Nations League group.

Manager Luciano Spalletti was criticised immensely following Italy's Euro 2024 exit with many questioning his position as manager, but he entered the Italy job amidst huge expectations after recently winning the league title with Napoli so it appears as though the Italian FA were well justified in their decision to give Spalletti more time to prove his worth.

Italy are slowly starting to get some fresh blood coming through the system now after a few years of staleness within the squad so there is a lot of optimism surrounding the national team. If they can progress to the finals of the Nations League it'll be a huge leap from last summer's low point and with how they've been playing this season, it's hard to back against them doing just that.

Belgium Team News:

Kevin De Bruyne is still missing from the Belgium squad while prospect Arthur Vermeeren is yet to pick up enough form for a recall.

Romelu Lukaku missed the last camp through injury and will struggle to reclaim his place up top from Loïs Openda.

Predicted lineup: Casteels; Debast, Faes, Theate, De Cuyper; Onana, Tielemans; Doku, De Ketelaere, Trossard; Openda.

Italy Team News:

Riccardo Calafiori missed out on this camp through injury while Manuel Locatelli continues to be excluded from the senior national team, in what is a fairly divisive call from Spalletti.

Nicolò Barella should make an immediate return to the starting lineup after missing out through injury last month.

Predicted lineup: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Buongiorno; Cambiaso, Frattesi, Barella, Tonali, Dimarco; Raspadori; Retegui.

Belgium's most recent game was a disappointing1-2 loss to France, where despite the French being reduced to ten men with 15 minutes remaining, Domenico Tedesco's men could not find an equaliser to add to Loïs Openda's goal.

Prior to that, Belgium drew 2-2 with Italy but did so in fairly fortunate circumstances, with the Italians being reduced to ten men after going 2-0 up as Lorenzo Pellegrini was given his marching orders. As a result, Maxim De Cuyper and Leandro Trossard salvaged a draw for the away side.

Those results followed a 2-0 loss to France, a 3-1 win over Israel and a 1-0 defeat to France at Euro 2024.

Italy's latest game was a thumping 4-1 win over Israel, where Mateo Retegui, Giovanni Di Lorenzo (X2) and Davide Frattesi delivered a resounding win.

Prior to that, Italy played out the aforementioned 2-2 draw with Belgium where Andrea Cambiaso and Mateo Retegui scored the goals, a result that preceded a 2-1 win over Israel, a 3-1 win over France and a 2-0 loss to Switzerland.

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