Preview
The long wait for Euro 2020/2021 is coming to an end as the biggest tournament this summer starts on June 11, 2021. Turkey vs Italy is the opening match of the Euro 2020/2021, and is awaited by all football fans across the world.
Group A starts with a great game, and it promises high-quality football as well as plenty of exciting betting opportunities. Italy have improved drastically over the past few years under the tutelage of Roberto Mancini, and look to have peaked at the right time. They face a Turkey team in the Euro 2020 opener team who are also on the up, meaning this curtain raiser is set to be an intriguing encounter. However it may be, we expect an interesting game on the cards today.
Form Guide: Turkey
Heading into the tournament, Turkey have been touted as many people’s dark horses for the competition, and it is easy to see why. Şenol Güneş’s side finished second in qualifying behind France, but did beat and draw with Les Bleus in their two head-to-head meetings on their way to conceding just three times in 10 games. Disappointingly, they followed that success up with a bottom place finish in their Nations League B group, drawing too many games, but have since turned a positive corner again. They trounced both the Netherlands (4-2) and Norway (3-0) in World Cup qualifying and head to the Euros on a six-game unbeaten run.
Ay-Yıldızlılar boast some really talented players, especially down the spine of their side, with Leicester’s Çağlar Söyüncü, Fenerbache’s Ozan Tufan, AC Milan’s Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Lille’s title winning hero Burak Yilmaz Turkey’s shining lights. But, despite goals flowing post-Euro qualifying, we can expect them to return to a more defensive approach here that has served them so well.
Form Guide: Italy
In what is set to be a very tight Group A, Italy do appear to be the standout team.
They were utterly dominant in qualifying, winning 10 out of 10 in an admittedly weak group. Roberto Mancini’s charges are unbeaten in 27 international matches ever since losing to Portugal in September of 2018 in the Nations League, highlighting their resurgence.
They have kept clean sheets in 20 of those matches, while winning all of their last eight games to nil.
Often renowned for their defensive stability as a nation, this Italy team definitely have a solid defensive platform to build upon.
How the match could go
This game is being played in Rome, so Italy do have home field advantage in this opener. The Italians more or less look like a better version of Turkey. Both sides look to build from a strong foundation, but Mancini’s side have better tools at both ends of the pitch and have proven to be much more consistent with performances and results.
Turkey will be difficult to break down though, and won’t go down easily, while Italy’s attack isn’t of the same standard of other sides in this competition. However, Turkey have drawn seven out of their last 13 games while Italy have won all of their last eight games to nil. Not so much difference with both sides but we can still agree that Italy are currently the better side as it stands.
Tip: Italy to win
Italy have been something of a bogey team for the Turks who have never beaten them across 11 meetings. But they have claimed three draws, including 1-1 stalemates in the last two friendly clashes. Based on current form and quality on the pitch, Italy are simply the better side and we expect them to see off Turkey with yet another win. The Azzurri will not exactly have a stroll in the park but we expect them to claim all three points regardless. Bet365 have 1.50 odds while Bet9ja and 1xbet have 1.56 odds.
Over 2.5 goals
As earlier mentioned, Turkey have never beaten Italy, and it will be hard to say they’ll get their first win here. Italy are on a very strong run and have a perfect balance in defence and attack, having won each of their last eight, with clean sheets. They have scored two or more in that run and will be strong favorites here. While Turkey are also on a good run, they haven’t met opponents as strong as Italy and we feel they will struggle here. We are backing Italy for a winning start, and in their scoring form, over 2.5 goals also looks good here. Bet365 and Bet9ja have 2.30 odds while 1xbet have 2.40.
Both teams to score: Yes
Both teams have scored in each of the last four encounters between these two countries and we’re backing both Turkey and Italy to find the back of the next on Friday. Three of Turkey’s last six international matches have seen both teams get on the scoreboard, while Italy have found the back of the net in each of their last nine outings. Bet9ja have 2.14 odds, Bet365 have 2.37 and 1xbet have theirs at 2.55.
Anytime Goal-scorer (Turkey)
Burak Yilmaz
Burak Yilmaz should lead the line for Turkey and will be on a high after firing Lille to title glory in France. He hit a hat-trick in the impressive win over the Dutch and also scored against Moldova in a warm-up game. Despite his age, he remains in splendid form and is no doubt the number one man to get on the score-sheet for the Turks. There is value here, with Bet365 offering 4.75 odds while Bet9ja have theirs at 5.00.
Hakan Calhanoglu
In midfield, Calhanoglu will be crucial to Turkey’s success at Euro 2020 as he is their chief creator of goals and can chip in with the odd goal now and again as well. Also blessed with a brilliant set-piece ability, he would come as a goal-scoring threat to the Italians overall. Bet365 have 6.50 odds while Bet9ja have it even better at 8.00.
Anytime Goal-scorer (Italy)
Ciro Immobile
It’s hard to look past Ciro Immobile (below) for an Italy goal as he has been one of Europe’s deadliest hitmen for the past couple of seasons. The Lazio striker has netted 28 times this season and scored in the warm-up win over the Czechs. He is in top form at the moment and is surely one of the likely names to get on the score-sheet. Bet365 have 2.25 odds while Bet9ja have 2.50.
Lorenzo Insigne
Alongside Immobile, Italy’s attack will also have Insigne. The Napoli captain comes off the back of an impressive individual season where he bagged 19 goals in 33 matches. He is also in decent form at the moment, having scored for Italy in their most recent outing against Czech Republic. With lots of star names in Italy’s attack, he is one of the top candidates to score for sure. Bet365 have 3.00 odds while Bet9ja have 3.25.
Football Lover. All-round junkie of the beautiful game. Could be found watching football most of the time. If not he’s writing about them or making some punditry you don’t agree with. A certain bias for Arsenal and Santos FC.
