It’s do or die time for England as they bid to reach the semi-finals, and bookmakers make them 19/10 shots to get the job done in normal time tonight (7.45pm KO, Live on BBC1).
Italy can be backed at 15/8 in the 90 minutes betting, while the draw is a 2/1 chance.
As far as the stats are concerned the Three Lions have managed just one win from their last nine games against Italy (D2, L6).Their last clash saw them lose a friendly in Leeds 2-1 in March 2002.
They have met at European Championship finals just once before, with Italy winning a group game in 1980 1-0.
Italy also have the better form when it comes to quarter-final encounters in major championships.
They have only been knocked out two of the nine occasions that they have reached this stage – both times on penalty kicks.
That’s much better than England who have lost 7 out of 10 when playing in the last 8.
However on current form there is little to choose between the two sides in what is likely to be a low-scoring affair.
Both base their play around having a strong defence, and in it would be no surprise to see what promises to be a real tactical battle go into extra time.
However England would certainly not want it to go to penalties as they have won just 1 of their 6 previous shoot-outs at major tournaments, when beating Spain in the quarter-finals of Euro 1996 after a 0-0 draw.
The good news ahead of this quarter-final clash is that England have no late injury scares.
That means that Roy Hodgson is set to stick with the side that started against Ukraine on Tuesday, with Danny Welbeck starting ahead of Andy Carroll.
Wayne Rooney, who marked his return to action with a goal in their 1-0 win over Ukraine,has now scored 29 international goals and needs one more to go joint-fifth on England’s list of top scorers.
He is sure to be much sharper tonight, and a big performance from him is paramount if England are to progress.
I think he will rise to the occasion, and at 6/1 with BetVictor and Stan James he makes plenty of appeal to score first
If England can get that all important opener it could well be enough to seal victory as I expect this to be a low scoring affair.
Therefore in the hope that they can get the job done in normal time, I am going to suggest a small punt on them winning 1-0 in the correct score market at a general price of 6/1.
