Finalissima Preview: Italy vs. Argentina

Italy vs. Argentina predictions

Wembley hosts an international glamour tie on Wednesday, June 1 when European champions Italy face off against Copa America victors Argentina in a not-to-be-missed international Finalissima showdown.

Officially called the 'CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions', it's a game that has been revived after being played twice previously. Firstly, back in 1985, when France won in Paris against Uruguay, and then in 1993, when Argentina were triumphant over Denmark on home soil in Mar del Plata.

Back then, the countries fought it out for the 'Artemio Franchi Cup' and they will do so again in London, with the trophy named after the late Artemio Franchi, the former UEFA president, who died in a road accident in 1983.

Italy vs. Argentina: A closer look at the odds

Argentina, who are the slight favourites at 2.660*, secured their place in the game after winning the Copa America by defeating South American rivals Brazil 1-0 in the final of that tournament last July. Italy, meanwhile, are priced at 2.840* to add the Finalissima crown to the European Championship title they secured, also at Wembley, when they beat hosts England on penalties last summer. A draw at 90 minutes is priced at 3.120*.

There's unlikely to be too much to choose from between the two international heavyweights, who between them have won six World Cups and have met 15 times on various international stages, with Italy winning on six occasions and Argentina coming out on top five times, while there's been four draws between the two nations down the years.

Argentina have had the upper hand in recent meetings, though, winning the last four games between them, most recently when they won 2-0 in a friendly in March 2018.

World Cup agony follows Italy Euro triumph

Italy will be bruised after sensationally failing to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar this winter, despite being European champions. They were surprisingly beaten by minnows North Macedonia in a playoff match in March, and this is the second successive World Cup the Azzurri have missed out on.

Roberto Mancini has stayed on as boss despite that unexpected failure as he continues to have credit in the bank for guiding Italy to last year's Euros success and the European giants will be keen to show they remain a formidable force even though they won't be in Qatar by getting the better of Argentina in this one-off match.

They haven't played since responding to the North Macedonia setback with a 3-2 friendly win over Turkey at the end of March, and they will be keen to regain the winning momentum that saw them go on a world-record 37-game unbeaten run that amazingly started in 2018 and only came to an end when they lost to Spain in the Nations League last October.

No such problems for in-form Argentina

Argentina comfortably qualified for the 2022 World Cup when they finished second out of 10 teams in the CONMEBOL qualifying process and Lionel Scaloni's side, spearheaded by PSG superstar Lionel Messi, are on a long unbeaten run of their own - they are undefeated since July 2019 (a run of 32 games) and were last in action when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Ecuador in their final dead rubber World Cup qualifier at the end of March.

As well as Messi, Argentina boast a wealth of world-class talent, including fellow PSG star Angel di Maria, Juventus forward Paulo Dybala and Inter Milan duo Lautaro Martinez and Joaquin Correa.

Italy are blessed with plenty of experience and quality players, too, including the likes of Chelsea midfielder Jorginho, another PSG man, Marco Verratti, and Lazio and Napoli stars Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne.

With both countries keen to put on a good show in this somewhat unique clash and with a big crowd expected at Wembley, this will have the feeling of a major tournament knockout game and it's one that may well need penalties to decide it - with Italy tipped to repeat their triumph of 12 months ago - as the two star-studded teams may cancel each other out.

Prediction - Italy to win on penalties

Are you ready to make your Finalissima predictions? Sign up at Pinnacle to bet on Finalissima with out great odds.