ITALY have been a bogey team for England in recent years so Gareth Southgate
faces a tough start to the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign in front of a partisan
crowd in Naples.
The Azzurri are unbeaten in the last six meetings, with the most memorable triumph coming at Wembley in the Euro 2020 final as they edged it on penalties to become kings of the continent.
Having impressed so much in that tournament, it was a major surprise when Roberto Mancini's side followed it up by failing to reach the World Cup, with North Macedonia stunning them in the play-offs.
As usual, England breezed through qualifying but headed to Qatar in poor form after finishing bottom of a Nations League group that included Italy, Germany and Hungary.
That piled pressure on Gareth Southgate heading to the World Cup but his side responded superbly in the finals as they blazed a trail to the quarter-finals with some free-scoring displays.
With Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka emerging as breakout stars, it was looking good for the Three Lions – only for France to beat them 2-1 as another bet landed for our man Slips Tips.
Despite crashing out, Southgate decided to stay in charge for another campaign and he will be targeting the Euro crown after coming so agonisingly close last time out.
The Azzurri are unbeaten in the last six meetings, with the most memorable triumph coming at Wembley in the Euro 2020 final as they edged it on penalties to become kings of the continent.
Having impressed so much in that tournament, it was a major surprise when Roberto Mancini's side followed it up by failing to reach the World Cup, with North Macedonia stunning them in the play-offs.
As usual, England breezed through qualifying but headed to Qatar in poor form after finishing bottom of a Nations League group that included Italy, Germany and Hungary.
That piled pressure on Gareth Southgate heading to the World Cup but his side responded superbly in the finals as they blazed a trail to the quarter-finals with some free-scoring displays.
With Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka emerging as breakout stars, it was looking good for the Three Lions – only for France to beat them 2-1 as another bet landed for our man Slips Tips.
Despite crashing out, Southgate decided to stay in charge for another campaign and he will be targeting the Euro crown after coming so agonisingly close last time out.
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