Italy vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
International Friendly, KO: 19:45 Jun 9, 2024, Stadio Carlo Castellani
On Sunday night, Italy will play their final match before flying to Germany for Euro 2024 when they take on Bosnia and Herzegovina in Tuscany.
Italy may not be heading to the Euros as one of the favourites to win the competition but they do go there as the holders, so the squad will be desperate to give account of themselves. To help with that, they will be seeking a strong performance and a big win against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Sunday.
The visitors aren't competing at Euro 2024 this summer and faced England earlier in the week at St James' Park. They frustrated the Three Lions in the first half so Luciano Spalletti's men should expect to face a stubborn defence in Tuscany.
How the bookies view it: Italy to head to the Euros with a win
The bookies don't believe that Bosnia and Herzegovina will provide a stern test for the Italians in their final Euro 2024 warm-up match. With Bet365, Italy are the strong favourites at 1/4 while Bosnia and Herzegovina are the outsiders at 8/1. The draw has been priced at 19/4.
Recent head-to-head: Advantage Italy
Italy and Bosnia and Herzegovina have played each other four times since 2019 due to being paired in the same Euro 2020 qualifying group and 2020/21 Nations League group. Italy won three of those meetings with Bosnia nicking a 1-1 draw in Florence in September 2020.
Bosnia and Herzegovina have beaten Italy once before. In their first-ever clash with the Gli Azzurri in 1996, they ran out as 2-1 winners.
Players to watch: Scamacca to steal the show?
Gianluca Scamacca returned to Serie A last summer after a disappointing spell at West Ham in the Premier League. The 25-year-old has been brilliant for Atalanta this season and played a key role in their Europa League glory, most notably scoring a double at Anfield in the quarter-finals.
In total, Scamacca scored 18 goals across all competitions for Atalanta in 2023/24 and will feature in the Champions League next season. After missing Italy's clash with Turkey earlier in the week, Scamacca will come straight back into the starting XI and provide the Italians with some much-needed quality up top.
Ermedin Demirovic will be the danger man for Bosnia and Herzegovina. The forward netted 15 times for Augsburg in the Bundesliga during the 2023/24 season.
Predicted lineups
Italy are set to play a 3-5-2 system after failing to inspire against Turkey with a 4-3-3. As already mentioned, Gianluca Scamacca will come into the starting XI while Stephan El Shaarawy will also be hoping for a starting spot. Bosnian legend, Edin Dzeko, will miss the match due to injury.
Italy: Donnarumma – Cambiaso, Darmian, Buongiorno, Calafiori, Dimarco – Frattesi, Fagioli – El Shaarawy, Scamacca, Raspadori
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Piric – Radeljic, Katic, Ahmedhodzic, Hadzikadunic, Gazibegovic – Krunic, Gigovoc, Tahirovic, Hajradinovic – Demirovic
Anything else catch the eye?
It may be a cliche at this point that Italian teams are strong in defence but Luciano Spaletti has certainly moulded his team around defensive stability in the build-up to Euro 2024. Italy have kept a clean sheet in three of their last four fixtures and the move to 3-5-2 should mean even more protection for Donnarumma in goal. Italy to keep a clean sheet is priced at 8/13.
This International Friendly match between Italy and Bosnia and Herzegovina will be played on Jun 9, 2024 and kick off at 19:45. Check below for our tipsters best Italy vs Bosnia and Herzegovina prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
