World Cup Qualifiers – Italy vs North Macedonia
2022 World Cup UEFA qualification play-offs semi-final
World Cup Qualifiers – Italy vs North Macedonia: Predictions
Italy failed to be clinical in the previous round of the qualifiers and missed out on a direct spot in the World Cup. However, disregarding their loss in the Nations League against Spain where they were reduced to 10 men, the nation has not lost at home since 2016.
Their opponents meanwhile, despite pulling off a historic win against Germany earlier in this tournament, are unlikely to disturb the Euro winners.
The Italian defense has been feared across the world for years. However, they seldom kept clean sheets in recent fixtures at home. Lavovi on the other hand have scored in 12 of their last 13 away games. Hence I have gone for the BTTS wager.
World Cup Qualifiers – Italy vs North Macedonia: Betting Tips
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Half-time / Full-time result: Italy / Italy @ 1.61 odds.
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Both teams to score @ 3.02 odds.
Pre-match conference
Blagoja Milevski, North Macedonia coach: “We give kudos to and have only respect for Italy, but North Macedonia also demonstrated its quality that ensured our placement into the company of the best 20 in Europe, so I think that we will relish that. There are always favourites, on paper at least. But that’s what makes sports, and football in particular, interesting.
“I have no doubts about my line-up, and I just hope that everyone will be ready for tomorrow’s challenge. The guys have shown that they deserve to be here […] now all that remains is for them to enjoy the match.
“I am always realistic when I set goals, I know that in the near future North Macedonia have the quality and potential to be much closer to the top European teams. I don’t know how long it will take, but that’s what we have set out to achieve.”
Roberto Mancini, Italy coach: “Our goal is to win the World Cup, and do that we have to start by winning these two games. We want to go to the World Cup to win it.
“We should not have been here. I have talented players who built a victory out of nothing that nobody believed in. That does not guarantee you getting to the World Cup, but it’s a solid base.”
