Preview: Spain vs. Italy – Team news and Prediction

It sounds like an exciting match between Spain and Italy tonight. It's always interesting when two strong football nations meet. Last year's Nations League semi-final between the two teams resulted in a victory for Spain with a score of 2-1, so there is an element of revenge for Italy. Luis de la Fuente took over as the manager of the Spanish team since January, and it's still early in his tenure. The team has played two matches under his leadership so far. They first won 3-0 against Norway, but then they lost to Scotland. It was a disappointing defeat, especially because Scotland is now at the top of their European qualification group.

After the loss to Scotland, there is undoubtedly a need for Spain to show positive play and deliver a good performance against Italy. It is important for the team to react positively and prove that they are still a strong team under de la Fuente's leadership. It will also help silence the critics and instill confidence that they have the right manager in charge.

It will be exciting to see how the match unfolds and whether Spain can repeat last year's victory or if Italy will get their revenge. Football matches can be unpredictable, so it's always fun to see how it all plays out on the field.
Italy's national football team has experienced fluctuating performances over the years. Like any other football nation, they can experience both success and disappointment. Their performance at the World Cup Qualifiers may have had an impact on some of the players, and it can take time to recover from such disappointment.
In the European qualification, they had a poor start with a defeat against England, but they managed to bounce back with a victory against Malta. 

The Nations League can be an opportunity for Italy and their coach Roberto Mancini to rebuild the team's confidence and start fresh. By approaching the semi-final with purpose and demonstrating positive signs on the field, they can prove their ability to play more freely and perhaps avoid the stereotypical Italian approach, which is often more structured and defensive-oriented.
Italy has a proud football tradition and has previously showcased their skills at the international level. It will be exciting to see how the team develops and handles upcoming challenges in the Nations League and other tournaments.

Spain’s Nations League form:
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Spain’s form in all competitions:
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Italy’s Nations League form:
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Italy’s form in all competitions: 
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Team news:
Spain is going through a minor generational transition, and if we look at last year's semifinal between Italy and Spain, there are only 7 players from that match who are in the current squad. Busquets, Pedri, Ferran Torres, Juan Bernat, and Dani Olmo are all injured, so it will be Jordi Alba who will captain the Spanish national team.

Spain’s expected line-up: 
Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Alba; Rodri, Zubimendi, Merino; Asensio, Morata, Gavi

Domenico Berardi and Matteo Pessina are injured and therefore not part of tonight's semi-final, while Alessandro Florenzi and Mattia Zaccagni have been left out by Roberto Mancini. Milan's star Sandro Tonali and Atalanta's talent Scalvini are both currently preparing for the European Under-21 Championship, a tournament that Italy prioritizes highly.

It will also be interesting to see which striker Mancini chooses, whether it will be Ciro Immobile or Mateo Retegui.

Italy’s expected line-up: 
Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Acerbi, Bastoni, Spinazzola; Barella, Jorginho, Verratti; Chiesa, Retegui, Pellegrini

Player profiles: 
A player who can bring immense confidence is the newly crowned Champions League winner, Rodri. He was the one who even scored the winning goal, and his performance level this season has been extremely high. He is arguably the best defensive midfielder in the world right now. He is the linchpin of Spain's team, and he plays the same role here as he does at Manchester City—breaking up play, setting up players, and controlling the tempo.

Nico Barella and Inter may have lost to City in the Champions League final, but he was one of the best players on the field, and therefore enters this match in good form. Barella is passionate and gives his all in every game he plays, so we believe his enthusiasm, combined with his offensive qualities, can be crucial in determining whether Italy will reach the final.

Prediction: 
These are two teams that are currently struggling to find their true playing identity, so on paper, it's a very evenly matched game. Spain is a slight favorite according to several bookmakers, but in our opinion, it's a completely balanced game that could easily end in a draw. A good prediction for the match could be a 1-1 draw, so we are therefore predicting two possibilities for the game: a draw and both teams scoring.