After becoming the first team to seal qualification to the next round and having their third consecutive game at home in the Stadio Olimpico, Italy will be aiming to make it three wins out of three, given that the home advantage has worked for them in their previous two games.
Over the two games, Italy has scored six goals without reply to make it their tenth consecutive clean sheet and will take confidence from the fact that they have lost only two of their last 21 matches against teams from the British Isles (W11, D8.)
Wales will be needing just one point from their final game to ensure qualification in second place, but lose and if the Swiss win, then depending on goal difference Wales could finish third.
In their last five previous meetings Italy W4, L1 scoring 15 and conceding just three goals.
Italy are 1/45 to win the game and Wales are 8/50 to win the game.
- Previous defensive record:
Italy scored three goals and kept yet another clean sheet in their last game against Switzerland, where Wales were 2-0 winners against Turkey.
Manuel Locatelli became the third player to score a brace for Italy at the European Championships in their tie against Switzerland- three of his last five competitive strikes have been match openers in the first half-hour. Wales’ Aaron Ramsey has scored five of his previous seven competitive goals after halftime.
Alessandro Florenzi and Giorgio Chiellini (Italy) are out with a calf and muscle injury respectively. Davies, Mepham, Moore (Wales) will miss the next match if they are booked, and Wales qualify.
Italy possible line-up: Donnarumma; Toloi, Bonucci, Acerbi, Emerson; Locatelli, Jorginho, Barella; Berardi, Belotti, Chiesa
Wales possible line-up: Ward; Roberts, Mepham, Rodon, Davies; Ampadu, Allen; Bale, Ramsey, James; Moore
Team view:
Domenico Berardi, Italy forward: “We have so many options in attack. We must try to give 100% in every game. There’s another important test coming up [against Wales] and we will aim to win that too.”
Robert Page, Wales manager: “We can’t plan for [qualification], if four points is good enough to get through then brilliant. We’ll pick a team and formation to go out against Italy and compete and get the win. We want to win every game we play, and it’s no different on Sunday.”
Last six form guide:
Italy: WWWWWW
Wales: DWDLWW
Italy seem to be in cruise control in this group but if they suffer a shock loss to the Welsh then they will be giving up first spot and fall to second. They have qualified but the result of this game in either a win or a loss will confirm their position.
Wales have had a good campaign so far, drawing one and winning one but they will be confident of going out and giving a game to Italy and will be hoping they get the win to give them first place in this group. But even one point will be enough to secure qualification, their second time in as many appearances at European Championships, although a loss could also see them qualify in second, or as one of the best ranked third placed sides depending on results elsewhere.
Although, Italy will not want to miss out on equalling their existing all-time record of 30 games unbeaten, first set in 1939 and they will also be aiming to win all three group matches for just the second time in their history.
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