Fresh from winning the European Championship Italy returns to the World Cup qualifiers on Thursday and are set to face Bulgaria at Florrnce’s Staio Artemio Franchi with kickoff at 21:45.
Italians are looking unstoppable currently as they boost in a brilliant form as they are now on a 34-match unbeaten run which culminated in their victory at Euro 2020. The Azures rose recently to football dominance following the appointment of Roberto Mancini as the manager after Italy failed to qualify for 2018 World Cup in Russia.
His appointment marked the start of the impressive run and are well on their way to booking their place in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar a tournament where many sees them as one of the favorites to claim the title. Roberto Mancini’s side have already won all their three qualifying matches and head into their fourth group match looking to keep their remarkable run which now covers nearly three years and Mancini will expect his side to keep their standards in this match especially that their next match is against Switzerland who the Azzurri see as their main rivals for the sole automatic qualification spot.
Meanwhile Bulgaria’s form is widely contrasting to that of their Thursday’s opponents. The Bulgarians first failed to qualify to Euro 2020 and are really in a poor form currently having failed to secure a single win in their last eight matches across all competitions.
The Lions are yet to also secure a win in the qualifiers as they have suffered two defeats and one draw so far from their opening three matches. They now sit at the bottom of Group C standings with only one point claimed from their 0-0 draw against Northern Ireland in their last qualifying match.
Bulgaria looks to have problems at both ends of the pitch as they failed to score more than one goal in their last five matches while they have conceded five goals from their last three matches including a 3-0 defeat to France.
Thus, Italy will fancy their chances here as they are expected to course trouble to the Bulgarian defense as the Azzurri boast with talents in their attack while they expect minimal problems form the Lions attack as the Azures also boast with a solid defense.
Italy vs Bulgaria head to head
Bot sides have met 12 times since 1968 with Italy being by far the better side as they have claimed seven victories whereas Bulgaria have only claimed one win and there have been four draws. Also, Italy have not lost to Bulgaria in their last four home matches.
- Bulgaria 0-2 Italy 28/03/21
- Italy 1-0 Bulgaria 06/09/15
- Bulgaria 2-2 Italy 28/03/15
- Italy 1-0 Bulgaria 06/09/13
- Bulgaria 2-2 Italy 07/06/12
Home
- Italy 3-2 England (AP)
- Italy 4-2 Spain (AP)
- Belgium 1-2 Italy
- Italy 2-1 Austria
- Italy 1-0 Wales
Away
- France 3-0 Bulgaria
- Russia 1-0 Bulgaria
- Slovakia 1-1 Bulgaria
- Northern Ireland 0-0 Bulgaria
- Bulgaria 0-2 Italy
Italy team news
Roberto Mancini unsurprisingly kept faith with his European Champions as he named a similar squad but Andrea Bellotti is absentee having withdrawn from the squad due to an injury he has been nursing since the begging of the new season.
Bulgaria team news
Yasen Petrov included 10 uncapped players to his squad during the spring and now Kaloyan Krastev is the only new call-up in this week’s squad.
Prediction and odds
- Italy win
- Goals over 3.5
- Bulgaria to score(no)
