Having each didn’t qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Greece and Italy will shut out their 2025-26 worldwide campaigns with a pleasant conflict in Crete on Sunday as consideration shifts towards the upcoming UEFA Nations League season.
Italy’s absence from the World Cup marks a historic low for the four-time champions, who’ve now missed three consecutive editions after additionally failing to qualify in 2018 and 2022. The Azzurri have been eradicated in heartbreaking style after shedding to Bosnia-Herzegovina on penalties within the playoff closing regardless of overcoming Northern Eire within the semi-finals.
Following that disappointment, Italy started a rebuilding course of with interim coach Silvio Baldini main a youthful squad full of uncapped abilities. Their first outing beneath Baldini led to a slim 1-0 victory over Luxembourg because of a second-half strike from Inter Milan teen Pio Esposito.
In the meantime, Turkey formally secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after ending a 24-year absence from the match and can face Venezuela in a closing warm-up match earlier than the competitors begins.
Italy now journey to Heraklion hoping extra younger gamers can impress earlier than a tough UEFA Nations League marketing campaign that includes France, Belgium and Turkey later this 12 months.
Greece additionally endured disappointment after ending third of their World Cup qualifying group behind Scotland. Regardless of earlier success within the Nations League, together with a well-known victory over England at Wembley, Ivan Jovanovic’s aspect have struggled for consistency in current months.
The Greeks wanted a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser from Giorgios Masouras to rescue a 2-2 draw in opposition to Sweden on Thursday and have received solely as soon as of their final eight matches heading into Sunday’s encounter.
Staff Information
Italy are anticipated to proceed experimenting with younger abilities after 15 gamers made their senior debuts in opposition to Luxembourg. Gianluigi Donnarumma is prone to captain the aspect once more, whereas Pio Esposito might hold his place in assault.
Italy by way of their official X deal with revealed that Marco Palestra, a 21-year-old Italian right-back at Cagliari on mortgage from Atalanta, has left the Azzurri coaching camp and can miss the June 7 pleasant in opposition to Greece after medical employees assessed his adductor situation as non-recoverable.
The replace follows Italy’s current win over Luxembourg, a part of squad experiments by interim coach Silvio Baldini that includes a number of younger gamers making senior debuts.
Greece are anticipated to area a robust lineup led by Vangelis Pavlidis, with Kostas Tsimikas and Christos Tzolis additionally prone to begin.
Attainable Lineups
Greece potential beginning lineup:
Tzolakis; Vagiannidis, Retsos, Mavropanos, Tsimikas; Zafeiris, Kourbelis, Triantis; Tzolis; Douvikas, Pavlidis
Italy potential beginning lineup:
Donnarumma; Fortini, Comuzzo, Ahanor, Bartesaghi; Ndour, Lipani, Pisilli; Fini, Esposito, Koleosho
Tips on how to Watch
| Platform | Particulars |
|---|---|
| TV Broadcast | SuperSport |
| Stay Stream | DSTV Now |
| Kick-off Time | 20:00 (WAT) |
Match Prediction
Softfootball predicts Greece 2-1 Italy.
Each groups are rebuilding after painful World Cup failures, however Greece could maintain a slight benefit with a extra skilled and settled squad. Italy’s youthful aspect possess high quality and power, although inconsistency might nonetheless be a problem throughout this transition interval.
