Italy vs France Preview, Predictions, and Top Bets: Anticipated Clash in Football Action

Football Faceoff: Italy goes head-to-head with France in the UEFA Nations League on Sunday. The Azzurri left a lasting impression in Paris back in September, notching a 3-1 victory - a feat they hadn't achieved in the city for a whopping 70 years. Both teams have already made it through to the next round, but a draw for France would officially crown them as group leaders.

Azzurri Ascendancy

Italy has been on a roll since their Round-of-16 exit at the Euros. In the Nations League, they've won four matches and drawn one out of five. Their league opener was none other than a thrilling 3-1 comeback in France, followed by a 2-1 "away" win over Israel.

Despite playing with just ten men for 50 minutes, Italy conceded a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 against Belgium. They then displayed dominance with a 4-1 win over Israel, boasting a whopping 2.77 xG, and a steady 1-0 victory in Belgium on Thursday – all while keeping their opposition's xG at a mere 0.52.

Wager: UEFA Nations League

Azzurri Roster

Luciano Spalletti is shaping up an exciting new Italy squad, with Jorginho seemingly out of the picture. Missing from this FIFA break are Federico Chiesa, Gianluca Scamacca, and defender Riccardo Calafiori.

Spalletti might introduce Moise Kean into the starting lineup to breathe fresh life into the attack. Additionally, Destiny Udogie and Manuel Locatelli are strong options should substitutions be required.

Azzurri Ambition

Morale is sky-high under Spalletti, as players embrace his tactical strategies. Italy has already qualified, but they'll aim to clinch the top spot with at least a draw.

Under Spalletti's system, Italy values possession, but they're also capable of shifting into a resilient defensive strategy, using a 5-4-1 or a midfield diamond when necessary.

Wager: UEFA Nations League

Les Bleus Form

France's disappointing 2-1 defeat to Spain in the Euro semis was just their second loss in 15 matches. Their Nations League debut didn't go as planned, with a 3-1 home loss to Italy, but they rebounded with a 2-0 win over Belgium, racking up an impressive 25 shots and conceding just 0.56 xG.

Following victories over Israel in Budapest (4-1) and Belgium (2-1), France demonstrated an attack-oriented approach. Unfortunately, they didn't convert their chances in their most recent match against Israel, drawing 0-0 at home despite creating six big chances from 24 shots.

Les Bleus Roster

France is without Kylian Mbappé, who's reportedly fallen out with the coach. Eduardo Camavinga is suspended, Aurélien Tchouaméni isn't selected, and Ousmane Dembélé is sidelined due to injury.

Randal Kolo Muani is expected to lead the line, with Warren Zaïre-Emery offering support. If fresh blood is needed, Christopher Nkunku, Kingsley Coman, and Marcus Thuram are viable options.

Wager: UEFA Nations League

Les Bleus Moxie

Didier Deschamps usually adopts a cautious approach against powerful opponents, and this game should follow suit.

France has been wrestling with low confidence in attack, severely impacted by the absences of Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann. A scoreless draw could be a satisfactory outcome for Les Bleus.

Key Stats

Italy has won 4 of their past 5 matches.
Italy clinched their most recent encounter with France (but lost the previous 3, all featuring BTTS).
France has lost 2 of their previous 6 matches – a contrast from their 18-match winning streak before that.
France has scored 8 goals in their past 4 matches (compared to 5 goals in the 8 games preceding that).
France has kept 8 clean sheets in their last 12 games.

Wager: UEFA Nations League

Final Call

Though France remains a strong team defensively, Italy seems to have the momentum, making them slight favorites. However, a scoreless draw is another plausible outcome. A high-scoring match appears unlikely.

*Best Bet: Italy to win at 2.70***

*Alternate Bet: Under 2.5 goals***

*Correct Score Tip: Italy 1-0 France***

Italy has been on a winning streak in the UEFA Nations League, with four wins and one draw from five matches, highlighting their ascendancy.
During their opening match, Italy secured a thrilling 3-1 comeback against France, reinforcing their form and sportsmanship in football.
Luciano Spalletti, the Italy coach, is shaping a formidable team, with players like Moise Kean and Manuel Locatelli showcasing their potential in footy_analysis sheets.
Despite some setbacks and missing key players, Italy aims to clinch the top spot in the UEFA Nations League, ensuring their dominance in football continue.
France, while known for their strong defense, has been grappling with low confidence in attack, and a scoreless draw could be a possible outcome due to the absence of Kylian Mbappé and other influential players.