Italy’s final squad of 23 was announced yesterday and Marcello Lippi will now be looking to select his starting 11 as his side prepare to defend the World Cup this summer in South Africa. There are many familiar faces set to feature this evening but it is players such as Christian Maggio and Claudio Marchisio, who will both be earning only their fourth caps, who are really on trial.
The world champions are favourites for the game, which will be played in Brussels, priced at 19/20 (bet £20 to win £19 profit), leaving Mexico as underdogs at 7/2, with the draw available at 12/5 with Totesport.
Tonight will be Mexico’s fourth match in only ten days and last time out they bounced back from defeats to the Netherlands and England to thrash lowly Gambia 5-1. Italy, meanwhile, have played only once this year, but are unbeaten in their last eight games.
The bookmakers have made a 1-1 draw the joint-favourite score for the game at 6/1, along with a 1-0 win for Italy, who have scored only once in their last three matches. They have, however, kept clean sheets in each of these, and another goalless draw is available at 17/2, with Mexico 10/1 with Sky Bet to edge it 1-0.
Antonio Di Natale has been made favourite to open the scoring tonight at 5/1 after hitting twenty-nine goals for Udinese last season. He is followed in the betting by Alberto Gilardino at 11/2 with Bet365 and Vincenzo Iaquinta at 6/1 with Ladbrokes. For Mexico, the biggest threat is seen to come from Javier Hernandez, in the absence of Guillermo Franco, and the newly-signed Manchester United forward is 17/2 with Bet365.
Italy often take their time to open their opponents up, initially focusing on defence and structural discipline. William Hill offer 21/20 that they lead at both half-time and full-time and 7/2 is generally available that they win the match after drawing at half-time. Draw/draw is 4/1 and Mexico/Mexico can be found at 8/1 in places.
Spain, who beat Italy on penalties en route to winning the last European Championships, are favourites to lift the World Cup this summer at 4/1. The Azzuri, while perhaps not as strong as in 2006, are still given a good chance this time around, with the bookmakers offering odds of 16/1.
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