Match Forecast: Italy vs Estonia
Italy and Estonia are set to face off in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification UEFA Group I match next week, with the Italian side favoured to secure a victory. The match will take place at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia in Bergamo and is scheduled for 7:45pm UK time on Friday.
Italy have had a mixed run in their recent matches, winning two and losing three of their last six. They kicked off their World Cup qualification campaign with a 3-0 defeat to Norway, but bounced back with a 2-0 home victory against Moldova.
Estonia, on the other hand, have struggled in their recent outings, losing their last three matches, most recently to Norway (3-0). They are currently fourth in the group, having earned three points from four matches.
Gennaro Gattuso's side are expected to line up in a 3-5-1-1 formation against Estonia, with Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal, Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, and Ranieri in defence, and Cambiaso, Frattesi, Ricci, Tonali, and Dimarco in midfield. Retegui will lead the line for Italy, with Raspadori behind him as the playmaker.
Estonia are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Hein in goal, Schjonning-Larsen, Paskotsi, Kuusk, and Saliste in defence, Palumets and Shein in holding midfield, Kristal, Kait, and Sinyavskiy as the three attacking midfielders, and Sappinen leading the line.
The predicted score for the match is Italy 3-0, with best odds offered by Zetbet. It's worth noting that Italy are currently nine points behind leaders Norway and three points behind second-placed Israel in the group.
Italy are one of the major footballing nations in the world and are known for their numerous victories in major competitions like the World Cup and the European Championship. In contrast, Estonia are one of the weakest and smallest footballing nations in Europe and do not qualify for any major international competitions.
Despite Estonia's recent struggles, a close game cannot be ruled out. However, Italy's stronger squad and higher ranking in the group make them the favourites going into this match.
