Italy vs North Macedonia Prediction and Betting Tips: Both teams to find the net on Friday

European champions Italy still have it all to play for in their bid to qualify for EURO 2024, facing North Macedonia on Friday night in a decisive four days for Luciano Spalletti's men.

Having played one game fewer than Ukraine above them, Italy's fate remains in their own hands. A 3-1 defeat to England last time out slammed the breaks on hopes of qualification, however, Monday's hotly contested match with the team currently occupying 2nd place is sure to be a rousing affair so long as the Azzurri can navigate the challenge of North Macedonia first.

For the visitors, it's all about pride at this point. North Macedonia have played six games and earned just seven points, holding Italy to a 1-1 draw in September and generally keeping things relatively tight in their Group C fixtures minus a 7-0 drubbing at the hands of England. That means they aren't able to make an appearance at the 2024 European Championships but having a degree of control over which team might progress and which might not is a power that shouldn't be underestimated, so anticipate MKD being fired up for this contest regardless of its lack of personal benefits.

North Macedonia have proven to be a bogey team of sorts for Italy in recent years, winning once and drawing twice in their four head-to-head meetings from 2016. Of course, there feels like a cap on how long this can continue for, but more assuredly is how the Southeast European nation have never failed to score against their more esteemed counterparts.

Italy cannot afford to settle for anything less than a victory on Friday night, with goal difference between themselves and Ukraine also tight and possibly proving to be a decisive factor should the two share the spoils with one another on Monday. That means the pressure is on Spalletti's side to deliver the goods and to do it in a convincing fashion too, which can and will leave them susceptible to counter attacks, especially when North Macedonia should play with the shackles off.

The Azzurri have kept just two clean sheets in their last 10 matches, both coming against Group C whipping boys Malta, with this bet a success in four of their six EURO 2024 qualifiers, including the 1-1 draw with Friday's opponents.

The hosts are plagued with injuries but are still relatively well equipped to cover for their absences. Matteo Darmian is expected to replace the suspended Giovanni Di Lorenzo, while Spurs' Destiny Udogie is unable for selection and should therefore have his vacancy filled by Federico Dimarco at left back.

Dimarco was the starting LB for four consecutive matches before Udogie came into the side who were knocked back by England. The 26-year-old Milan-born defender will be entering with confidence having registered a goal and assist in his last three matches for Internazionale - the former a stunning effort from the halfway line which lobbed the Frosinone goalkeeper to give his team the lead.

Italy play with real width under Spalletti, just like Napoli did under the Scudetto winner's tutelage. They should get real joy down both flanks even without the availability of their first choice full-backs due to the significant increase in quality between MKD and themselves and the visitors' susceptible 3-4-1-2 formation facing Italy's reliable 4-3-3.