Euro 2020: Who is likely to qualify?

Group J: Italy, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Finland, Greece, Armenia, Liechtenstein

Italy aren't back to their best, but the likes of Lorenzo Insigne should help them to qualify

Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup was one of the biggest shockers of 2017, and unlike the resurgent Netherlands, it doesn’t appear that they’ve righted the ship just yet. They finished second in their Nations League group, but most of their games were disappointing, as they only scored a total of 2 goals throughout the campaign.

They’re clearly not lacking in talent, however, with the likes of Lorenzo Insigne, Marco Verratti and Gianluigi Donnarumma, and that means that with two teams going through each group, they should make it to Euro 2020 comfortably. Whether they can finish above Bosnia & Herzegovina might be up for question, though.

Bosnia have had a successful Nations League campaign, earning promotion into League A thanks to their victory in a group containing Austria and Northern Ireland, and their talismanic striker Edin Dzeko continues to score goals, hitting 3 in the recent fixtures. Their side isn’t full of star power, but they’re clearly a solid outfit.

Finland also won their Nations League group, but that was in League C, and losses to Greece and Hungary in their final two games were largely disappointing. That win by Greece should give them the faith that they can overcome Finland again here, but neither side seems capable of bothering Italy or Bosnia.

Armenia meanwhile picked up 3 Nations League wins – albeit over weak opposition – and while I doubt they can defeat Italy or Bosnia, they could be a difficult test for any of the other sides in this group, particularly playing at home in Yerevan. Liechtenstein meanwhile will likely finish rock bottom judging on their own poor record and Nations League form.

Overall this should be a comfortable group for Italy in particular and probably Bosnia too.

Prediction: Italy and Bosnia & Herzegovina to qualify