Italy will conclude their preparations for Euro 2020 this Friday when they lock horns with fellow title contenders Czech Republic at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara in Bologna with kickoff at 21:45.
The in-form Italy head into the match off the back of a seven-match winning streak including their last Saturday’s goal thrilling 7-0 win over their neighbors San Marino in an international friendly. During this run the Azzurri scored 21 goals and conceded non showing just how brilliant they have been at both ends in the pitch. To add to their brilliant form, Italy have not lost in any of their last 26 games and also, they have not lost in their last 24 home matches.
Roberto Mancini’s side will play against Turkey at Stadio Olimpico in their opening match of Euro 2020 before also taking on Switzerland and Wales in Group A.
Meanwhile Czech Republic will use the match as of one their two warm up matches for Euro 2020 and will head into the clash on a back of a 1-0 loss to Wales back in March in a World Cup qualifying match. Prior to the loss Czech were in an impressive form with a four-match unbeaten run with a goal difference of +7 goals.
Silhavy boys will face Albania in Prague next week in an international friendly before heading to Hampden Park to kickoff their Euro 2020 campaign against Scotland on June 14.
Italy vs Czech Republic head to head
Italy and Czech Republic have faced each other in five matches since 1996 with Italy winning twice while Czech have won once and two matches resulted in a draw. Take a look at the results of their past five encounters;
- Italy 2-1 Czech Republic Sep 10, 2013
- Czech Republic 0-0 Italy Jun 07, 2013
- Czech Republic 0-2 Italy Jun 22, 2006
- Italy 2-2 Czech Republic Feb 18, 2004
- Czech Republic 2-1 Italy Jun 14, 1996
Home
- Italy 7-0 San Marino
- Lithuania 0-2 Italy
- Bulgaria 0-2 Italy
- Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland
- Bosnia & Herzegovina 0-2 Italy
Away
- Wales 1-0 Czech Republic
- Czech Republic 1-1 Belgium
- Estonia 2-6 Czech Republic
- Czech Republic 2-0 Slovakia
- Czech Republic 1-0 Israel
Italy team news
Roberto Mancini has named his 26-man squad for Euro 2020 including Giorgio Chiellini, Leonaredo Bonnucci, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Marco Verrati, Ciro Immobile, Stefano Sensi, Francesco Acerbi, Jorginho and Emerson Palmieri featuring a possible debut of Giacomo Raspadori. However key stars including Matteo Pessina, Matteo Politano, Gianluca Mancini and Moise Kean have all been left out.
Italy have few minor injuries that need to concern themselves with including Stefano Sensi, Francesco Acerbi and Marco Verratti.
Czech Republic team news
Jaroslav Silhavy has named his strong squad for Euro 2020 including Vladimir Coufal, Tomas Soucek, Tomas Vaclik, Schick and Matej Vydra as well as the debut of Michal Sadilek. However, Czech will miss the services of Lukas Provod who nursing a knee injury and Ondrej Kudela who is banned, serving a 10-match suspension for racial abuse.
Prediction and odds
- Italy win
- Over 2.5 goals
- Possible draw
