Belgium Women vs Italy Women Tips, Predictions and Bet Builder

Italy Women will be hoping to get their quest for European Championship glory off to the perfect start when they take on Belgium Women in their Group B opener at the Wankdorf Stadium in Bern, Switzerland on Thursday.

Le Azzurre are preparing for their eighth successive appearance at the Women's Euros as they aim to lift the trophy for the first time, with their best result as runners-up finishes in 1993 and 1997.

Belgium's reputation has been building steadily over the last few years and this will be their third European Championships, having failed to get out of the group stage on debut in 2017 before reaching the quarter-finals in 2022.

With Group B clashes against Spain and Portugal to come, this is a crucial opening fixture for both Italy and Belgium with the pair knowing a victory would go a long way to helping them reach the knockout stages.

Belgium Women vs Italy Women Tips Summary

Market	Tip	Odds
Match Result	Italy Women	4/5
Best Bet	Belgium Women to win	3/1
Bet Builder	Cristiana Girelli and Tessa Wullaert both to score at any time, over 2 goals	7/1

Key Match Stats

• Belgium finished third in qualifying Group A2, behind Spain and Denmark

• The Red Flames beat Greece 5-0 and Ukraine 4-1 on aggregate in the play-off round to reach the main draw

• Italy qualified for the tournament after topping Group A1 on nine points

• Le Azzurre have lost their opening match at the last two Euros

• Italy have won only one of their last eight European Championship matches

• Belgium beat Italy 1-0 in the group stage of the 2022 tournament

• The Red Flames beat Italy in February, winning 2-1 for a third successive victory over Le Azzurre

Belgium Women vs Italy Women Prediction

Best Bet: Belgium Women to win @ 3/1

Belgium may be inexperienced when it comes to major tournaments, having played in just two European Championships and no World Cups, but they have been making solid progress in recent years and they could surprise a few people in Switzerland.

The Red Flames clicked into gear in the play-off round to qualify for the Switzerland spectacle, overcoming Greece and Ukraine with ease, and they have since showcased their talents with a 3-2 Nations League victory over England in April.

Belgium have also had the beating of Italy, winning the last three encounters, and the fact one of those victories came at the Euros in 2022 further strengthens their claims.

Italy will be a tough nut to crack and they showed their class when winning Group A1 in qualifying, topping a section that included the Netherlands and Norway.

But Le Azzurre have a habit of starting off major events slowly and they could find themselves behind the eight ball after this Group B opener.

James Mason explains:

Belgium have been making positive strides in recent years and they can continue on this upward trajectory by getting the better of an Italian side who have failed to get out of the group in the last two Euros.

Belgium Women vs Italy Women Bet Builder Tip

• Cristiana Girelli to score at any time

• Tessa Wullaert to score at any time

• Over 2 combined goals

  Pays 7/1

While Italy are expected to come up short in this opening match, that doesn't mean they won't pose an attacking threat and Cristiana Girelli can get herself on the scoresheet.

The 35-year-old has scored three goals in her last two appearances and looks capable of adding to that tally in what is expected to be her last European Championship.

Belgium also have a star forward in their ranks, Tessa Wullaert, with the 32-year-old netting nine times in her last nine appearances for her country.

The Inter Milan ace notched in the win over Italy when they last met and looks capable of doing the same again.

Goals look to be on the agenda between these two nations, with there being at least three goals in four of Italy's last five matches and in five of Belgium's last six assignments.

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James Mason adds:

Italian Cristiana Girelli and Belgian Tessa Wullaert are world-class forwards and can showcase their quality on one of the biggest stages. With the duo expected to find the back of the net, it seems likely there will be at least three goals in the match.

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Tactics, Form and Team News

Belgium like to play free-flowing, attacking football and that should make for an entertaining contest against an Italian outfit who also like to get on the front foot and create chances.

Le Havre goalkeeper Lisa Lichtfus is in line to get the nod over PSV Eindhoven's Nicky Evrard, while all-time record goalscorer Tessa Wullaert will be hoping to add to her international tally.

Expected Belgium Women line up: (3-5-2) Lichtfus; Tysiak, Kees, Cayman; Janssens, Teulings, Vanhaevermaet, Deloose, Toloba; Eurlings, Wullaert.

Italy are a flexible side when it comes to formations, switching between 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, 3-5-1 and 3-5-2, but it is expected that they will go with the latter of those four for this opening clash.

Head coach Andrea Soncin made the decision to cut Astrid Gilardi, Martina Rosucci, Aurora Galli, and Valentina Bergamaschi from the preliminary squad.

Expected Italy Women line up: (3-5-2) Giuliani; Di Guglielmo, Salvai, Linari; Bonansea, Caruso, Giugliano, Severini, Olivieri; Cantore, Girelli.

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.