Pre-Match Preview: Israel vs. Italy in the UEFA Nations League
The UEFA Nations League gears up for an exhilarating matchup as Israel takes on Italy. Scheduled to be held on September 9, 2024, at Bozsik Aréna in Hungary, the game offers another chance for Israel to defy the odds against a formidable Italian side.
Head-to-Head Record and Recent Form
The historical data heavily favors Italy, as they remain undefeated in their past five encounters with Israel, securing four wins and one draw. The last clash between these two sides occurred during the World Cup qualifiers in September 2017, where Italy triumphed 1-0, courtesy of a second-half goal by Ciro Immobile, a former Lazio forward.
Israel has not been the most consistent team of late, winning just two out of their last eight matches and suffering defeats in three of their previous four encounters. Their defense has been porous, managing only two clean sheets in their last eight games across all competitions.
Italy, ranked 10th in the latest FIFA standings, sits 68 places above their opponents, Israel. Despite a recent dip in form with a three-match winless streak, the Azzurri rejuvenated their winning ways with a victory over France on September 6, 2024, a 3-1 showdown at Parc des Princes.
Key Players to Watch
Israel
- Manor Solomon: The Leeds United loanee has been a blazing talent in Israel’s attack. His speed and technique could offer one of Israel’s few routes to challenge the Italian defense.
- Oscar Gloukh and Anan Khalaili: Both born in 2004, these prodigies have shown immense potential. Gloukh, who plies his trade with Red Bull Salzburg, has impressive stats behind him. He has amassed seven goals and eleven assists in 29 appearances for the Austrian side during the 2023/2024 season, as per data from the Bundesliga.
- Raz Shlomo: One of the best performers for Israel this year, Shlomo has accumulated one goal in two appearances in friendlies, proving to be a useful asset defensively and offensively.
Italy
- Mateo Retegui: Retegui has been pivotal for Italy this year, making eight appearances and scoring two goals in friendlies. His performance in the UEFA Nations League and Euro Championship has also been commendable, with a rating of 6.52 in the UEFA Nations League.
- Lorenzo Pellegrini: With three assists and a goal in eight appearances this year, Pellegrini remains one of Italy’s most creative forces in the midfield.
- Davide Frattesi: Having scored a goal and provided some sturdy midfield support, Frattesi’s versatility could be a game-changer for Italy.
Predicted Line-Ups
Italy’s Expected Line-up (Source: media reports)
- Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma
- Defenders: Raoul Bellanova, Federico Gatti, Alessandro Buongiorno, Alessandro Bastoni, Federico Dimarco
- Midfielders: Samuele Ricci, Sandro Tonali, Davide Frattesi
- Forwards: Giacomo Raspadori, Mateo Retegui
Israel’s Squad Highlights
- Goalkeepers: G. Amos, Y. Gerafi, O. Glazer, Daniel Peretz
- Defenders: O. Arad, E. Dasa, O. Davidzada, S. Goldberg, M. Vítor, R. Revivo, R. Shlomo
- Midfielders: M. Abu Fani, O. Gloukh, G. Kanichowsky, G. Kinda, N. Lavi, Dor Peretz, R. Safouri, I. Shahar, T. Yosefi
- Attackers: L. Abada, T. Baribo, A. Khalaili, D. David
My Prediction: 4-1 to Italy
Given the current form, historical dominance, and squad depth, Italy appears poised to secure a convincing victory. The potent combination of experience and youth in their squad should be able to outclass their Israeli counterparts. From Norway coalescing to handle Israel’s unpredictable offense to Italy’s clinical finishing up front, the game dynamics strongly tilt in favor of the Azzurri.
However, the Israeli team shouldn’t be underestimated. With rising stars like Manor Solomon and Oscar Gloukh, they hold the potential to create moments of brilliance that could challenge the Italian defense.
This match promises to be a compelling encounter, and football fans worldwide will be keenly watching how it unfolds.
