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Italy will take on Belgium in a fight for third place in the UEFA Nations League 2020-21 on Sunday. The two teams will meet again after playing against each other in the quarter-finals of Euro 2020 a few months ago. That night, goals from Nicolo Barella and Lorenzo Insigne saw Italy overcome the challenge posed by Belgium.
Italy and Belgium tasted defeat against Spain and France, respectively in the semi-finals of the second edition of the Nations League. Italy's 37-match unbeaten run was stopped by Luis Enrique's Spain when the reigning European champions were defeated 2-1 in the first semi-final.
Meanwhile, Belgium fell short against France in the second semi-final. First-half goals saw Belgium go 2-0 up, but the French made a memorable second half comeback to win the thriller 3-2. As a result, Belgium's wait for their first international trophy continues.
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Missing out on the finals of the Nations League, these two teams will now battle for third place in Italy. Today, we will give our five predictions for the encounter between these two heavyweights. Let us take a look at
Top 5 predictions for Italy vs Belgium
#5 Moise Kean to start for Italy
With veteran sharpshooter Ciro Immobile out due to injury, Roberto Mancini fielded an Italian XI without a centre-forward against Spain. Mancini's decision backfired as Italy lacked sharpness and efficiency in front of goal. As a result, Moise Kean looks likely to get another opportunity to show his caliber against Belgium.
The 21-year-old striker has had a limited number of chances since making his debut in 2018. Kean has made 11 appearances for Italy, scoring four goals - two of the goals came in the recent World Cup Qualifier against Lithuania. Kean will want to make the most of the opportunity and earn Mancini's trust with his performance.
#4 Romelu Lukaku to get his name on the scoring sheet
Romelu Lukaku's effort went in vain after France's resurgence in the second half saw Belgium lose a thrilling contest. Lukaku was the scorer of the second goal which helped Belgium take a 2-0 lead, only to lose the match 2-3 at the end.
The 28-year-old has made putting the ball into the net look easy in recent times. Lukaku scored four goals in five games at Euro 2020, showing his prowess in front of goal. The mighty Belgian has already scored three goals in the Premier League for Chelsea since arriving from Inter Milan.
If Lukaku gets a proper supply from his teammates, chances are that he will score again.
#3 Leonardo Bonucci's absence to be a major disadvantage for Italy
Leonardo Bonucci will miss Italy's encounter with Belgium in the Nations League due to his red card in the semi-finals. Bonucci has been an integral part of the Italy team, with his recent exploits helping Italy win Euro 2020.
The 34-year-old formed an unbreakable defensive partnership with compatriot Cheillini, his goal in the Euro 2020 final making him the oldest person to score in the competition's final. Due to his exploits, Bonucci was named in the UEFA Euro 2020 team of the tournament.
It goes without saying that Bonucci's absence will be a big miss for the Italians. However, the deeper problem lies in the fact that the replacements are nowhere near Bonucci's caliber. Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard are set to cause more headaches for Italy in the absence of Bonucci.
#2 Belgium to lose midfield battle against Italy
Belgium's inability to dictate tempo was again evident against France. Despite Kevin De Bruyne's brilliance, Belgium's midfield lacks consistency. Roberto Martinez is still unable to get the best out of Timothy Castagne, Yannick Carrasco and Axel Witsel.
Meanwhile, Italy are just the opposite under Roberto Mancini. They have the perfect balance in midfield through Nicolo Barella, Jorginho and Marco Verratti. Italy's expertise lies in their three midfielders creating openings in their opponent's defense through their control, precision and vision.
There is an evident gap in quality on paper between the two sets of midfielders, with Italy boasting a superior midfield. If things go according to script, Italy will dominate possession more and not let Belgium have much space in the midfield.
#1 Italy to win the match in shootout
Both nations are coming into the game on the back of a defeat but will want to end the tournament on a high. There is no place for complacency in such an even encounter between two heavyweights. It is expected to be a tough fight between the heavyweights just like their previous clash in Euro 2020.
Italy were on a record 37-match unbeaten before they met Spain in the semi-finals of the Nations League. The Azzurri will want to get back into winning ways and have the stronger team on paper. Considering their current form, they are poised to end the Nations League as the third best team.
