20:00 Kick off time (UK). Match taking place in Lyon.
Coverage starts at 19:35 on BBC1. Henry, Vialli and Kompany in the studio with Lineker, commentary by Steve Wilson and Martin Keown.
Game of the day/week on paper. They met in November with Belgium coming out 3-1 winners.
Belgium need no introduction, topped their qualifying group after a poor start which involved losing to Wales. Our very own Kev De Bruyne was top goal scorer in qualifying with 5 goals and is Belgiums most important player. They’ve been on and off in their recent friendlies, creating a lot of chance but also leaking quite a few goals.
Kompany’s absence is definitely noticeable and Wilmots has made a mess of trying to make up for that. He’s split up the Spurs centre back pairing of Alderweireld and Vertonghan playing them at full back in favour of Vermaelan and Denayer. He finally seen sense in the last friendly by switching Denayer and Alderweireld but it still needs work. Lukaku has recently found some form, scoring in each of Belgiums last 4 games.
Italy also need no introduction, unbeaten in qualifying, finishing top of their group ahead of Croatia. However in the last year they have been on the end of heavy defeats to Germany and as mentioned Belgium. They lack a proper attacking threat; Pelle was top goal scorer in qualifying with 3 goals and he does a good job but he’s no Vieri or Paulo Rossi.
However, that’s never stopped them in the past, expect them to play the Italian way, really defensive and then try to nick a goal on a set piece. The have a solid defensive spine all from Juventus (Buffon, Bonucci, Barzagli, Chiellini) and expect them to build from that. Florenzi from Roma would be the player to watch for me, not bad defensively and will offer a threat on that right side.
Think I’ll predict 1-1 for this, the Italians always raise their bar in tournaments.
Coverage starts at 19:35 on BBC1. Henry, Vialli and Kompany in the studio with Lineker, commentary by Steve Wilson and Martin Keown.
Game of the day/week on paper. They met in November with Belgium coming out 3-1 winners.
Belgium need no introduction, topped their qualifying group after a poor start which involved losing to Wales. Our very own Kev De Bruyne was top goal scorer in qualifying with 5 goals and is Belgiums most important player. They’ve been on and off in their recent friendlies, creating a lot of chance but also leaking quite a few goals.
Kompany’s absence is definitely noticeable and Wilmots has made a mess of trying to make up for that. He’s split up the Spurs centre back pairing of Alderweireld and Vertonghan playing them at full back in favour of Vermaelan and Denayer. He finally seen sense in the last friendly by switching Denayer and Alderweireld but it still needs work. Lukaku has recently found some form, scoring in each of Belgiums last 4 games.
Italy also need no introduction, unbeaten in qualifying, finishing top of their group ahead of Croatia. However in the last year they have been on the end of heavy defeats to Germany and as mentioned Belgium. They lack a proper attacking threat; Pelle was top goal scorer in qualifying with 3 goals and he does a good job but he’s no Vieri or Paulo Rossi.
However, that’s never stopped them in the past, expect them to play the Italian way, really defensive and then try to nick a goal on a set piece. The have a solid defensive spine all from Juventus (Buffon, Bonucci, Barzagli, Chiellini) and expect them to build from that. Florenzi from Roma would be the player to watch for me, not bad defensively and will offer a threat on that right side.
Think I’ll predict 1-1 for this, the Italians always raise their bar in tournaments.
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