Following a 5-1 loss to France in their opening match, Italy Women will be looking to bounce back when they take on Iceland Women in the Women’s Euro 2022 on Thursday.
On the other hand, Iceland will be seeking to build upon the point they picked up against Belgium when they face Italy at the Academy Stadium in Manchester.
Italy endured a disppointing start to their campaign, conceding five goals in the first half against France in their opening match of the tournament.
Goals from Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Delphine Cascarino and a Grace Geyoro hat-trick ensured that Italy trailled by five goals at the interval, and despite Martina Piemonte grabbing a consolation in the second half, Milena Bertolini’s side eventually fell to a heavy defeat.
That disappointing result has left Bertolini tasked with lifting her players ahead of group fixtures against Iceland and Belgium.
With confidence at a premium within the Italian squad, they can look to draw inspiration from the fact that they have won five of their previous eight matches. They will also be trying to continue their impressive goalscoring run after finding the net in their last 18 matches.
On the other hand, Iceland will also be seeking to claim their first victory of the competition after drawing 1-1 with Belgium in their opening game.
Thorsteinne Halldorsson’s side may have missed out on a fourth consecutive win, but they can be pleased that they head into the contest with Italy off the back of a four-game unbeaten streak.
Although the stalemate against Belgium extends their poor form in European Championship matches, with their 11 game in the tournament’s history resulting in just one victory.
Iceland can at least take confidence from their recent run of form, which has seen them win nine of their previous 11 matches.
Italy Women vs Iceland Women head to head
The two sides have previously met on five occasions across all competitions, where Italy have claimed two victories while Iceland have won once, and they have drawn in two. Iceland have scored four goals and conceded five. In their last meeting, they played out a 1-1 draw in a friendly.
Iceland 2-1 Italy 08/09/01
Italy 0-0 Iceland 08/06/02
Iceland 1-2 Italy 07/03/07
Italy 1-0 Iceland 10/04/21
Italy 1-1 Iceland 13/04/21
Italy Women latest home form
Italy have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, having lost just one of their five most recent matches. They drew 1-1 with Spain in their last home game in a friendly. In their last five matches, they have scored 14 goals and conceded just four.
Italy 3-0 Croatia 22/10/21
Italy 1-2 Switzerland 26/11/21
Italy 2-1 Norway 20/02/22
Italy 7-0 Lithuania 08/04/22
Italy 1-1 Spain 01/07/22
Italy Women latest away form
Italy have recently kept a patchy run of form on the road, as they have lost two of their five most recent matches. They were beaten 5-1 by France in their last away game in the UEFA Championship. In their last five matches, they have scored nine goals and conceded six.
Romania 0-5 Italy 30/11/21
Denmark 0-1 Italy 16/02/22
Sweden (P)1-1 Italy23/02/22
Switzerland 0-1 Italy 12/04/22
France 5-1 Italy 10/07/22
Iceland Women latest home form
Iceland have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, having lost just one of their six most recent matches. They defeated New Zealand 1-0 in their last home game in the SheBelieves Cup. In their last five matches, they have scored 12 goals and conceded just two.
Iceland 2-0 Republic of Ireland 15/06/21
Iceland 0-2 Netherlands 21/09/21
Iceland 4-0 Czech Republic 22/10/22
Iceland 5-0 Cyprus 26/10/21
Iceland 1-0 New Zealand 18/02/22
Iceland Women latest away form
Iceland have recently been on a good run of form on the road, having been unbeaten in their four most recent matches. They played out a 1-1 draw with Belgium in their last away game in the UEFA Championship. In their last five matches, they have scored 10 goals and conceded seven.
United States 5-0 Iceland 24/02/22
Belarus 0-5 Iceland 07/04/22
Czech Republic 0-1 Iceland 12/04/22
Poland 1-3 Iceland 29/06/22
Belgium 1-1 Iceland 10/07/22
Italy Women news
After coming off the bench at half time in Sunday’s contest, 30-year-old Martina Rosucci may be handed a starting spot for the encounter with Iceland.
Despite scoring against France, Piemontemay have to settle for a place on the bench once again, while Bertolini could stick with the same back four.
Iceland Women news
Iceland are expected to name an unchanged lineup for this contest, which would see Gudrun Arnardottir and Glodis Viggosdottir continue their centre-back pairing.
Captain Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir will feature in a midfield alongside Dagny Brynjarsdottir and Gunnhildur Yrsa Jonsdottir, with Thordvaldsdottir leading the line looking to add to her goal against Belgium.
Prediction and Odds
Although Iceland managed to pick up a point against Belgium in their opening match of the tournament, facing Italy could proof a tough challenge for them.
In the last six editions of the European Championship, Italy have won at least one game, and we think the will edge out Iceland on Thursday.
Odds: 1 1.88 X 2.05 2 2.22
Probable outcomes
Italy 2-0 Iceland
Italy 2-1 Iceland
Italy 3-1 Iceland
Italy 4-2 Iceland
Italy 2-2 Iceland
