Italy vs USA Predictions

Italy and the United States have played out some pretty fierce matches over the years, most notably at the 2006 World Cup, where 3 players were sent off in a drawn match. Italy of course went on to win that tournament but they didn’t even qualifying for the most recent edition and this Tuesday’s friendly is the latest step in their process of moving on from that despair under new boss Roberto Mancini.

The former Man City manager took over in May and has really put his stamp on this squad already with some surprise inclusions and a host of uncapped players in the party for this game, which will take place on neutral turf in Genk. Italy finished their UEFA Nations League campaign with a 0-0 draw against Portugal in Milan last week, a result which ended their hopes of winning the group but they are in no danger of relegation having won in Poland over the previous international break.

As for the United States, they come into this game following a 3-0 friendly defeat to England last time out. They were of course another side that surprisingly failed to qualify for the World Cup and they still only have an interim boss in the shape of Dave Sarachan. It’s just 1 win in 7 internationals overall for the USA heading into this one, although they have played some strong opponents, with that sequence also including fixtures against the likes of Brazil, Colombia and France.

It will be really interesting to see what kind of side Roberto Mancini puts out here. There are no fewer than 7 uncapped players in the Italian squad and if he decides to ring the changes it could be a really unfamiliar line up. Options include 18 year old Moise Kean who hasn’t even featured for a single minute in Serie A this term with Juve. Fellow teenager Sandro Tonali has been playing, albeit in Serie B and he’s also hoping to make his debut.

Mancini may go for a blend of youth and experience but it’s hard to see things clicking immediately with what could be one of the most inexperienced line-ups in the history of the Italian national side. Overall Italy have only won 1 of their last 7 matches so even since their World Cup qualifying play-off defeat, they’ve hardly shown genuine signs of a revival, with that solitary victory coming courtesy of a stoppage time goal in Poland.

They look very short here for the win given that record, not to mention the kind of team they may field and the fact that this will be played on neutral turf. USA aren’t in great shape themselves but in the shape of Christian Pulisic, they have somebody who could make a real difference and cause problems for this Italian defence.

You have to go back to a World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein in June 2017 for the last time Italy won a game by more than a single goal and backing USA +1.0 Asian Handicap could be worth a punt here.

Read our Asian Handicap Guide for more on this market.