Many questioned whether Italy was still good enough to be considered a global power in soccer. Six points after two matches later, and the Italians are one of the few teams without any pressure whatsoever on their backs heading into the last match day.
The Italians can wrap up the Group E title with a point against Ireland on Wednesday.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Italy +150
Ireland +210
Draw +230
Over/Under 2 (over -130)
ODDS ANALYSIS
There's still a belief that the Italians just aren't capable more often than not in spite of the fact that they've badly outplayed their last two foes. The Azzurri are still favored over an Irish team which needs these three points to have any realistic chance of advancing in this tournament. The margin at +150 for Italy though, isn't nearly convincing.
Thanks to the fact that Italy has yet to surrender a goal in this tournament, the total is set quite low at 2 with -130 vig on the over.
TOURNAMENT UPDATE
Italy probably wasn't quite as good against Sweden as it was against Belgium, but it's hard to blame it for a bit of a letdown after one of its biggest wins on the pitch over the course of the last several years. Still, Eder's 88th minute goal was enough to get the job done after a sterling defensive effort once again versus a team which has a lot of firepower and potential.
The Irish hung in there for 45 minutes against Belgium, but it was really only a matter of time until the dam broke. As a result, Martin O'Neill's team was beaten 3-0 to be put at the foot of the table, and that's why this last match is one in which it has no choice but to go forward. Prior to that, Ireland managed a 1-1 draw with Sweden. We said at the time that the own goal conceded by Ciaran Clark was potentially catastrophic, and that could turn out to be the case.
LIVE BETTING
Italy has this match right where it wants it. The Azzurri are perfectly comfortable sitting back and holding the ball for 55 or 60 minutes in this match, and if that's how this plays out, it's hard to see how Ireland is going to ultimately keep the ball out of the back of its own net.
Much is going to be made over what is sure to be a weaker Italian lineup in this match. We wouldn't be surprised even if Gianluigi Buffon was given a rest in net, especially after he picked up a yellow card for time wasting at the end of the match against Sweden. However, some of the Italian reserves include superstars at the club level like Matteo Darmian, Thiago Motta and Stefan Sturaro, and with these men likely to play this entire match, we don't see a letdown.
QUICK PICK
Goals are sure to be hard to come by in this match, and we'd be really surprised if the Irish managed to put one home. Wes Hoolahan has been dangerous, but Shane Long has been nowhere to be found, and neither one of these men have a history of playing well against the top flight of competition.
The most likely result here is a narrow Italian win just like we saw against Sweden. Eventually, when the need is really there for Ireland to go forward to try its best to get the three points, it will make a mistake, and that's when the luck of the Irish will officially run out.
Euro 2016 Odds: Italy 1, Ireland 0
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