Italy vs Estonia Predictions

• Italy have won two of their last three home qualifiers without conceding
• Estonia have failed to score in six of their last 10 competitive matches
• Italy have won all seven previous matches against Estonia, five without conceding

Gattuso cannot afford any debut slip-ups

Gennaro Gattuso’s reign as Azzurri coach begins with what should be a straightforward home World Cup qualifier against Estonia at Gewiss Stadium on Friday. The legendary ex-player, who represented Italy 73 times and won the World Cup in 2006, replaced Luciano Spalletti in June.

His first squad includes many of the same players that featured when Italy lost 3-0 to Norway in the summer, but Riccardo Califiori returns after injury and new Liverpool signing Giovanni Leoni is an intriguing selection.

Having missed out on the last two World Cup finals tournaments, there is a lot of pressure on the Azzurri to make it to the United States next year. They already trail Norway by nine points in Group I and probably cannot afford to lose another game if they are to avoid the play-offs.

Azzurri to keep Estonians out

Estonia are unlikely to offer much of a challenge, however, as they sit second-bottom of the pile with three defeats in their first four qualifiers. Jurgen Henn’s side beat Moldova 3-2 in Chisinau, but have already lost twice to Israel and once at home to Norway.

Italy should win this game in Bergamo, but it may not be the complete cake walk that the odds suggest. The Azzurri have won only one of their last 19 games by more than two goals and scored three or more goals in only three of those.

Back the hosts to win to nil because Estonia have failed to score in six of their last 10 competitive matches and in three of their four previous trips to Italy, all of which were defeats.