Euro 2021 Predictions: Italy vs Austria

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Italy won group winners with excellent results and has always played beautiful, success-oriented, good football. The whole thing without a clean sheet. Austria ended up in second place in Group C through the fight. Even the Dutch showed the Austrians their limits. Italy is also simply stronger.

After starting the year with three straight 2-0 victories in the World Cup qualifiers over Northern Ireland, Bulgaria and Lithuania, Italy has continued to play just as well in the European Championships. Italy secured a playoff spot first of all nations with two straight 3-0 victories over Turkey and Switzerland.

After that, the national team captain Roberto Mancini has given way to new players as he rotated strongly in the starting eleven against Wales. As many as 8 new players got to start and a chance to show their front feet. They did not disappoint as Italy won again, this time 1-0. Italy has played all three group matches in their home country, at Rome's Olympic Stadium. It will be a bit cumbersome to play in the last 16 at Wembley.

The defense in Italy has held a world class. It is not only in the European Championships that they have managed to zero all opponents. In fact, the last time Italy failed to keep a clean sheet was in the 1-1 draw with the Netherlands in October last year. Since then, Italy has not conceded a goal in 10 international matches, which equates to over 1000 minutes of football.

This is Austria's task to break, which in advance feels almost impossible. Maybe the goal is not to net against Italy either. A goalless result leads to extra time and then penalties, where anything can happen. Austria started briskly with a 3-1 victory over northern Macedonia, before losing to Amsterdam against the Netherlands.

With the defensive game that Austria showed, they still have a good chance to challenge Italy and at least keep the numbers down. Breaking down Italy will be another five. Although many nations have failed in that task for many years. Italy is expected to control and dominate the match, but there will be no need for any elimination against defensively strong Austria. 1-0, 2-0?

• Italy have won 24 of their last 27 matches 
• Italy have won to 0 in their last 11 matches 
• Italy have won by 2+ goals in 10 of their last 11 matches 
• Italy have won 5 of their last 6 matches against Austria 
• Austria have lost 3 of their last 6 matches 
• Austria have failed to score in 4 of their last 6 matches