Italy Women vs Iceland Women Predictions

• Both teams have scored in four of Italy’s last six games.
• Both Italy and Iceland have seen goals at both ends scored in back-to-back outings.
• Italy may enter this contest as favourites, but became the first team in Women’s European Championship history to concede five first-half goals in their Group D opener.

Azzurre look to bounce back from nightmare start

As far as starts to a major international tournament go, Italy’s thrashing at the hands of France in Rotherham, in which they became the first team ever to concede five first-half goals in the competition – even if their blushes were spared somewhat by Norway on Monday – was not ideal. The Azzurre began the tournament as second favourites to escape Group D, but now need a huge performance against Iceland.

Milena Bertolini’s Azzurre looked to be in good shape ahead of that rout, having gone unbeaten through seven games which included score draws with heavy-hitters Sweden and Spain. Italy have now seen both teams score in four of their last six outings, and though their record of 36 goals in their last 13 games suggests they should find the net here, their hammering by Les Bleues will not make punters confident of a clean sheet.

Having opened their own campaign with a draw against Belgium and with France expected to have qualification sewn up before their final-fixture meeting, Iceland’s hopes of making the knockout stages for the first time since 2013 have been boosted. The Stelpurnar Okkar have only lost one of their last 11 games, against the United States, and have netted 28 goals in that run, leaving them well-placed to play their part in an entertaining contest in Manchester.

Both teams can net in huge contest

A win for either side in this meeting would surely make them favourites to join likely Group D winners France in the knockouts, and their strong attacking records (and Italy’s woeful defending last time out) means backing goals at both ends looks a decent play.

Meanwhile, Italy are unbeaten in the two previous head-to-head meetings after posting a win and a draw against Iceland in April 2021. A narrow 2-1 win for the Azzurre, then, looks a decent correct score prediction.