Italy U21 v Netherlands U21
I made the Italians a stronger favourite today, we did oppose a much changed Netherlands team in the last group game against Spain and whilst I accept that they rested almost everyone for that game, all my concerns about them as a defensive unit remain, they have conceded six goals already and that figure could easily, perhaps should, be pushing double digits and you do not win any major tournament without a solid backline. They looked incredibly vulnerable through central defence in the Russia game, despite winning 5-1 and if the Russians had taken one of those early chances and kept ten men on the pitch, things would probably have been very different.
Anderlecht central defender Bram Nuytinck has returned home with a recurrence of his knee problems, he is their most experience defender and the backline looks far more exposed without him. They conceded just once in the ten competitive matches played in build up, with him in the starting eleven and three goals in the sole match he missed, he also sat out the 3-0 friendly win for Italy over the Dutch eleven months ago. I have just re-watched the goals and basic highlights from that, the Italians, especially Lorenzo Insigne and Ciro Immobile were going through that central backline ( all three goals came through the middle), like a knife through butter and I think they will get a lot of joy the same way today.
The Azzurri are packed full of talent and have huge top level experience. Insigne might only be fit for a spot on the bench today as he is carrying a knock, but he, Immobile, Alessandro Florenzi, Manolo Gabbiadini, Nicola Sansone, Alberto Paloschi and Mattia Destro alone had over 200 Serie A starts between them last season, plus almost 50 goals and circa 25 assists. Marco Verratti was a regular for PSG with 9 Champions League starts and Fabio Borini will be expected to offer far more in his second season at Anfield after his big money move, if he can stay injury free. This is a wily, experienced squad , 14 of whom have more than a dozen international appearances and the core are seasoned through playing a full season of top flight football, the Dutch have a soft underbelly for me, despite a lot of talent at the other end of the pitch and I favour the Italians.
Italy -0.25 ball
I made the Italians a stronger favourite today, we did oppose a much changed Netherlands team in the last group game against Spain and whilst I accept that they rested almost everyone for that game, all my concerns about them as a defensive unit remain, they have conceded six goals already and that figure could easily, perhaps should, be pushing double digits and you do not win any major tournament without a solid backline. They looked incredibly vulnerable through central defence in the Russia game, despite winning 5-1 and if the Russians had taken one of those early chances and kept ten men on the pitch, things would probably have been very different.
Anderlecht central defender Bram Nuytinck has returned home with a recurrence of his knee problems, he is their most experience defender and the backline looks far more exposed without him. They conceded just once in the ten competitive matches played in build up, with him in the starting eleven and three goals in the sole match he missed, he also sat out the 3-0 friendly win for Italy over the Dutch eleven months ago. I have just re-watched the goals and basic highlights from that, the Italians, especially Lorenzo Insigne and Ciro Immobile were going through that central backline ( all three goals came through the middle), like a knife through butter and I think they will get a lot of joy the same way today.
The Azzurri are packed full of talent and have huge top level experience. Insigne might only be fit for a spot on the bench today as he is carrying a knock, but he, Immobile, Alessandro Florenzi, Manolo Gabbiadini, Nicola Sansone, Alberto Paloschi and Mattia Destro alone had over 200 Serie A starts between them last season, plus almost 50 goals and circa 25 assists. Marco Verratti was a regular for PSG with 9 Champions League starts and Fabio Borini will be expected to offer far more in his second season at Anfield after his big money move, if he can stay injury free. This is a wily, experienced squad , 14 of whom have more than a dozen international appearances and the core are seasoned through playing a full season of top flight football, the Dutch have a soft underbelly for me, despite a lot of talent at the other end of the pitch and I favour the Italians.
Italy -0.25 ball
