Italy Euro Tips and Betting Odds

Welcome to BettingOdds.com's Euro 2021 profile series, where we'll be counting down to next summer's tournament with an in-depth look a the betting opportunities for each of the countries involved.

Mancini's well-oiled machine look ready for next summer's tournament

Italy's history at the European Championships isn't the best, with their only triumph falling back in 1968. Since then, the Azzurri have come close to success in the prestigious tournament, reaching the final in 2000 and 2012 but beaten by France and Spain on both respective occasions. 

At France in 2016, Italy made it through to the quarter's but bowed out after losing to Germany on penalties following a 1-1 draw in normal time. This time around, Italy - priced at 12/1 in the Euro winner betting market - will be hopeful of claiming their first piece of silverware since the 2006 World Cup, and looking at their recent form under manager Roberto Mancini there is plenty of room for optimism for their supporters. 

Italy's finishes at major int'l tournaments over the last 25 years

• 2018 World Cup, did not qualify
• 2016 Euro's, quarter-finals 
• 2014 World Cup, group stage
• 2012 Euro's, runners-up
• 2010 World Cup, group stage
• 2008 Euro's, quarter-finals
• 2006 World Cup, winners
• 2004 Euro's, group stage
• 2002 World Cup, last-16
• 2000 Euro's, runners-up
• 1998 World Cup, quarter-finals 
• 1996 Euro's, group stage

Which group have Italy been drawn in for Euro 2021?

Group A:

• Italy
• Switzerland
• Turkey
• Wales

Italy's outright odds at Euro 2021

Italy are among the favourites to win next summer's Euros, but at 12/1 they are much longer than the likes of England (9/2), Belgium (5/1), France (6/1) and the Netherlands (7/1). 

Indeed, looking at their recent form there could be some value in the Azzurri's current price. Italy have not lost a game in all competitions since October 2018, winning 14 of their previous 18 matches, drawing the remaining four. 

Famed throughout history for their defensive talents, Roberto Mancini has got this side back to their best at the back and in those aforementioned 18 games they have astonishingly only conceded six goals!

An unbelievable 12 clean sheets in the last two years have made Mancini's well-oiled machine a team who are almost impossible to break down, and should they carry this sort of form into next summer's tournament then I can't see many sides beating them, making the 12/1 odds on offer a potentially lucrative price, which could easily shorten between now and June.

Italy are solid odd-on favourites to win their group at the Euros, which is unsurprising given they have been drawn alongside Switzerland, Turkey and Wales - all sides that you'd expect them to overcome.

Who will be Italy's key men at Euro 2021?

Italy have long been known as the producers of some of the world's greatest footballers. The likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Paolo Maldini, Andreas Pirlo, Roberto Baggio et al. were all sensationally talented individuals and helped their country achieve greatness.

Now, however, there are very few players in Italy's squad remotely comparable to the above mentioned stars, more so a group of players who can collectively help Italy win their first major international title since 2006.

Ciro Immobile will be the man to track in the Euro top goalscorer betting market. The Lazio front man stormed to the Serie A Golden Boot award last term, netting 36 goals, and he will be relied upon to deliver the goals for Italy next summer. 

Lorenzo Insigne and Stephen El Shaarawy will also bear the brunt of goalscoring expectation at Euro 2021. The pair, who have a combined 13 goals for their country at senior level, both pose a huge threat in the final third, with the latter netting twice in the 6-0 demolition of Moldova at the start of October.

This unbelievable team-goal in Italy's recent win over the Netherlands summarises just how well Mancini has got this side playing at the moment (skip to 1:40):

Defensively Italy are so solid, and that is largely thanks to veteran controllers Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci - who combined have made over 200 appearances for their country.

The Juventus duo are two of the best centre-backs in world football and alongside the likes of Inter Milan's Danilo D'Ambrosio and Roma's Leonardo Spinazzola at full-back, Italy have a really strong defensive core to rely on, which has been proven with their recent results.

In midfield, Chelsea's Jorginho and Inter Milan youngster Nicolo Barella make Italy tick, and the 23-year-old - who now has 15 caps to his name and scored the winner against the Netherlands in September (goal in the video above) - is a really talented player who looks to have a huge future ahead of him at international level, and certainly one I'm looking forward to watching at Euro 2021.