Italy v Czech Republic betting tips: Azzurri end warm-ups in Bologna
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Italy are 4/6 favourites to beat Czech Republic in Bologna on Friday in their final warm-up game before they face Turkey in Euro 2020’s opening match on June 11.
The Azzurri are unbeaten in 26 matches following last week’s 7-0 rout of San Marino in which Roberto Mancini checked out his fringe players before deciding on his 26-man squad.
We expect to see a much stronger team in blue at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara so let’s examine some of the markets and odds in our Italy v Czech Republic betting tips.
Match Odds
The Italians are enjoying a seven-match winning run without conceding, although going further back they have kept clean sheets in all but one of their previous 11 games.
Mancini’s men are 17/10 to win to nil once again or 13/10 to beat the Czechs with three or fewer match goals, which was the case in five of their last six victories.
Their rout of San Marino ended a five-match run of 2-0 victories and the same scoreline is priced at 13/2.
The 1968 European champions were also ahead at the break in six of those seven victories and we have priced Italy HT/Italy FT at 8/5 or 17/5 to win both halves.
The Czechs’ recent three-match winning run, which included 2-0 and 6-2 victories over Slovakia and Estonia, ended with an impressive 1-1 draw against the world’s top-ranked team Belgium in a World Cup qualifier although three days later they managed to lose to Wales in Cardiff.
If the Czech Republic can draw against Belgium they have a chance of doing the same against Italy which is available at 11/4.
Talking Tactics
Mancini omitted Gianluca Mancini, Matteo Pessina, Matteo Politano and Moise Kean from his final 26-man squad which included Sassuolo striker Giacomo Raspadori.
The Italy coach has a good blend of experience and youth and he regularly rotates his line-up in either a 4-3-3 formation which he used for every Nations League match.
Opposite number Jaroslav Silhavy went with a 4-1-4-1 system in the draw against Belgium which he changed for a 4-2-3-1 in the defeat by Wales, so we should expect the former to make a return.
Goalscorer Odds
Either Ciro Immobile or Andrea Belotti are expected to be the focal point for Italy’s attack and they are 3/1 and 7/2 to break the deadlock on Friday.
Domenico Berardi has been on target in his last two starts for the four-time world champions and is 9/2 to get the ball rolling or 7/4 to score any time while penalty taker Jorginho is 4/1 to find the net although it remains to be seen whether he starts having won the Champions League with Chelsea at the weekend.
Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrick Schick was top scorer for the Czechs in qualifying with four goals and he is 15/2 joint favourite with Tomas Pekhart to grab the game’s first goal and both men are 14/5 to get on the scoresheet.
Match Info
Where: Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, Bologna
When: 19:45, Friday 4th June
How to watch: Sky Sports
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
