Malta vs Italy

Euro 2020 winners Italy make a short journey to the Ta’Qali National Stadium to encounter continental minnows Malta in a must-win Euro 2024 qualifying Group C showdown.

Malta unsurprisingly slipped to a 2-1 loss at North Macedonia in their opening qualifying Group C outing, extending their infamous losing run in Euro qualifiers to ten matches. The hosts will have to defy the odds to make it stop, yet after losing all eight previous competitive meetings with Italy, that’s unlikely to happen. Moreover, they’ve failed to get on the scoresheet in their last four H2Hs, which stands in stark contrast to their recent scoring exploits. Indeed, Michele Marcolini’s men have found the net in seven of their last eight internationals, including friendlies, though the only scoring blank in this sequence ominously came at home. However, the ‘Knights of Malta’ have lost their last three home qualifying matches for major tournaments (World Cup & Euros), succumbing to at least a four-goal margin on each occasion.

In the meantime, Italy didn’t only fail to bounce back from a busted attempt to qualify for the 2022 World Cup against England last time out, but they suffered a first home defeat in a Euro qualifier since 1999 (1-2). Despite continuing their qualifying Group C campaign as favorites to seal a top-two finish, Roberto Mancini’s men must be aware of the prospect of suffering back-to-back defeats in Euro qualifiers for the first time since 1983. Bringing a dismal 2-0 loss to Austria in a friendly into the equation, ‘Gli Azzurri’ may now lose three straight internationals for the first time in over a decade. However, unbeaten in their last 20 Euro qualifying games on hostile turf (W16, D4) since 2006, the Italians will be confident of returning to winning ways.