Photo: Todayuknews
Photo: Todayuknews

Italy will look to make it four wins on the bounce as they face Austria in the second Euro 2020 last-16 tie.

A perfect group stage has surprised many, despite the Azzurri’s form heading into the tournament, and can rightly be considered among the favourites to lift the trophy.

Austria, meanwhile, are in the knockout stages for the first time.

Date, kick-off time and venue

Italy vs Austria is scheduled for an 8pm BST kick-off on Saturday, June 26, 2021; 2 a.m June 27 Malaysia, Singapore time.

The match will be held at Wembley.

How to watch Italy vs Austria

TV channel: The match will be televised on BBC One for free.

Live stream: UK viewers will be able to watch the match online via the BBC iPlayer.

Watch the prediction of Super Turtle for the intense match between Italy vs Austria:

Italy vs Austria: Team News

Italy will likely be without both Giorgio Chiellini and Alessandro Florenzi. The veteran centre-back is back in training but not match fit, while Giovanni Di Lorenzo will step up if Florenzi fails a late fitness test.

Further forward, Marco Verratti should come in for Nicolo Barella, while it’s between Domenico Berardi and Federico Chiesa for who joins Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne in Italy's front three.

Austria are sweating over the fitness of both Konrad Laimer and Christoph Baumgartner. It remains to be seen if David Alaba continues at left-back.

  • Giorgio Chiellini is a doubt for Italy after missing their final group game with a hamstring problem. He has returned to training but may not be risked, with Francesco Acerbi more likely to deputise over Alessandro Bastoni on Saturday.
  • Giovanni Di Lorenzo will continue at right-back as Alessandro Florenzi looks set to miss out again because of injury.
  • Roberto Mancini has a massive decision to make who he drops in central midfield to accommodate Marco Verratti. The decision will be harsh on both Manuel Locatelli and Nicolo Barella.
  • Domenico Berardi or Federico Chiesa will join Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne in Italy's front three on Saturday.
  • Austria reverted to a back four against Ukraine on Monday and shifted David Alaba out to left-back. They ran out 1-0 winners and should stick with that formation here.
  • Austria expect Christoph Baumgartner to recover from a bang to the head to start on Saturday. Julian Baumgartlinger should also be available after a minor adductor problem.
  • There are doubts over Martin Hintereger and Valentino Lazaro, though only the former is a starter.

Predicted Lineups

Italy XI: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Acerbi, Spinazzola; Locatelli, Jorginho, Verratti; Berardi, Immobile, Insigne

Austria XI: Bachmann; Lainer, Dragovic, Hinteregger, Alaba; Laimer, Grillitsch, X. Schlager; Sabitzer, Baumgartner; Arnautovic

When is kick-off? Saturday 26 June, 20:00 (BST)

Where is the match being played? Wembley Stadium, London

What TV channel is it on? BBC One/BBC iPlayer (UK), ABC (US)

Referee: Anthony Taylor

VAR: Sandro Scharer

Italy vs Austria: Match Preview

Keeping expectations in check may be Italy's most difficult task heading into the latter stages of this summer's European Championships, as an 11th win in a row last time out helped them extend their undefeated streak to a total of 30 games. Tying a national record set back in the 1930s under legendary coach Vittorio Pozzo, the 1-0 victory over Wales was scant reward for their shadow side's complete domination last Sunday.

Roberto Mancini managed to keep his team's momentum going despite wholesale changes - with eight of the previous starting XI dropping out - to claim maximum points once again, following back-to-back 3-0 victories over Turkey and Switzerland.

However, their prize for cruising through as winners of Group A is a place in the more challenging side of the draw, as they will face Belgium or Portugal in the next round should they progress, and then potentially France, Spain or Croatia in a semi-final.

First, though, La Nazionale must leave their Roman stronghold at Stadio Olimpico to meet Austria on neutral turf. Nonetheless, they will travel north in the knowledge that no Italian team has lost to their neighbours since 1960, and they have emerged as winners in each of the nations' four major tournament meetings.

Yet to concede a goal in the competition, a clearly united squad - in which even substitute goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu has been awarded a handful of minutes - have not only proved an entertaining prospect for neutrals, but also shown they are made of stern stuff at the back. In fact, the last time Italy failed to keep a clean sheet was in a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands last October - over 1,000 minutes of football ago.

The four-time world champions have now reached ten straight wins for only the second time in their illustrious history - the first such streak having come during qualifying - and have not lost at all since 2018, so are in pole position to sweep past their Alpine counterparts this weekend.

With the odds already stacked against them due to a gulf in world ranking and historic stature, Austria will potentially tackle their first-ever knockout fixture in European Championship history with few partisan fans present at 'the home of football'.

Earlier this week, their football federation urged supporters not to travel to London for the clash with Italy, after they unsuccessfully attempted to have the match moved from England due to health and safety concerns.

As there is also a quarantine requirement for Austrians travelling to and from London, the prospect of Das Team being roared on by thousands of success-starved fans may be diminished, but they will at least arrive there having risen to the challenge of escaping Group C by beating Ukraine last time out.

While Austria would still have qualified along with their opponents had they drawn, in the end they deserved to win by more than just Christoph Baumgartner's first-half goal, which left coach Franco Foda enthused about his team's unprecedented achievement.

After the match, Foda noted that his squad had been determined "to write history" and progress through the first stage of any major tournament for the first time since their notorious 1982 World Cup campaign.

In fact, the former West Germany international has hardly taken a wrong step while at the helm; guiding the Austrians to League A promotion in the Nations League and through the Euro 2020 qualifiers since his appointment at the start of 2018.

Italy vs Austria: Predictions

Italy are the first side in European Championship history to win all three group stage matches without conceding. They have looked hugely impressive so far at this tournament.

Austria have looked relatively poor this summer but wins over North Macedonia and Ukraine secured second spot in Group C. It would be a massive shock if they eliminated Italy.

Italy have been one of the best teams in the competition so far. Roberto Mancini's men look well organised in all phases of play, with the midfield trio of Nicolo Barella, Manuel Locatelli and Jorginho earning praise. It will be interesting to see whether Marco Verratti starts this game.

Austria, on the other hand, have done well to reach this stage. Much of their team is comprised of Bundesliga stars, led by the versatile David Alaba. The Real Madrid bound player can operate in a number of positions, and he will be crucial for his country.

Italy will be the favourites to win here.

Prediction: Italy 2-0 Austria

Italy vs Austria Head-to-Head

In 35 head-to-head encounters between the two sides, Italy hold the clear advantage. They have won 16 games, lost 11 and drawn eight.

The two countries last faced each other way back in 2008, with the game ending in a 2-2 draw. Goals from centre-back Emanuel Pogatetz and striker Marc Janko for Austria was cancelled out by a goal from striker Alberto Gilardino and an own goal from goalkeeper Ramazan Ozcan for Italy.

Italy form guide at UEFA Euro 2020: W-W-W

Austria form guide at UEFA Euro 2020: W-L-W

READ MORE: Watch Italy vs Austria in Thailand and Myanmar: Live Stream, Online, TV Channels for Free

Italy vs Austria: Betting Tips

Italy to Win-to-Nil

Italy are in the midst of a winning and clean sheets run that spans back 11-matches. Yet to concede at Euro 2020 and winning all their group games, you can see why we're backing Italy to win-to-nil against an Austria side that lost 2-0 in their toughest group game against the Netherlands. Austria have failed to score in four of their last six matches and now face a really strong and confident Italy defence.

Over 2.5 Goals

Over 2.5 goals have been scored in four of Italy's last five matches, with the Italians winning two of their group games by three goals to nil. Two of Austria's last six international matches have produced over 3.5 goals with one of those being a 4-0 defeat to Denmark. Another reason we are expecting goals in this game is down to the fact that four of the last six meetings between these two nations have witnessed at least three goals being scored.

3-0 to Italy

Italy claimed 3-0 wins against Turkey and Switzerland during the group stage, the first time the country has scored more than 2-goals in any European Championship fixture. Roberto Mancini rested some players against Wales but will be back to near full-strength for the game against Austria and we're backing the Italians to dominate this game from start to finish, securing another 3-0 win in the process.

Italy vs Austria: Match Facts

*Italy have won their last 13 matches (European Championship).

*Italy have kept a clean sheet in 6 of their last 7 matches (European Championship).

*Italy have been winning at both half time and full time in 5 of their last 6 matches (European Championship).

*Italy are undefeated in their last 5 matches against Austria in all competitions.

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