Our prediction for this Euro 2024 match:
Malta
Match Time & Date:
26/03/2023
20:45
Prediction: 0-2
Italy
Italy will look to make amends for a heart-breaking loss to England when they take on Malta in their second group game. The Azzurri face a must-win situation against the Maltese, and they are likely to go all guns blazing at Michele Marcolini’s troops. Lazio attacker Ciro Immobile has been ruled out with injury, with West Ham forward Gianluca Scamacca pushing for a start. A man to keep an eye on in the away team, though, will be PSG midfielder Marco Verratti, who has 53 caps for the Italy national team.
Malta, on the other hand, failed to impress in a 2-1 loss to Northern Macedonia, and given their poor H2H record with Italy, anything but a routine away win would be a major surprise. You should know that Italy emerged triumphant in each of their previous eight meetings with Malta in all competitions. Midfielder Yankam Yannick should be recalled to Malta’s starting XI after scoring as a substitute against the Macedonians.
Highlighted Player (Marco Verratti):
Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti is the creative force of the French champions and a world-class professional even though he is only 23. Deemed one of the most talented Italian players of the new generation, Marco Verratti began his career in Pescara, his home town club, from which he was directly transferred to PSG much to surprise of the general football community.
Technically gifted playmaker was snapped by Les Parisiens in 2012 in front of Napoli, Roma and Juventus in a five-year deal worth €12 million. Marco Verratti has since gone to become a key member for the French champions already surpassing the 100-game mark for PSG.
The 23-year-old playmaker is a player of great vision and awareness, very calm and composed on the ball. His passing skills are impressive often compared to Italian legend Andrea Pirlo’s. Despite his diminutive figure Marco Verratti is not afraid to get in duels and participate in defence duties which make him an all-rounder and great influence in every segment of the play.
Highlighted Team (Malta):
Back in 1957 Malta played their first international match. The Falcons faced Austria in their debut on the international stage and they suffered a 3-2 loss to Das Team in front of home fans in Gzira. The Malta Football Association joined FIFA in 1959, while joining UEFA the following year and they have been competing in the qualifiers for the major tournaments since 1962.
The Knights of Malta have yet to participate at the finals of the showpiece tournaments, but they often claim major scalps in the qualifying matches. Malta recorded their biggest win (7-1) against Liechtenstein on March 26, 2008, but a win over Hungary in the Euro 2008 qualifiers is considered their biggest achievement.
Speaking of friendly games, it has to be noted that Malta did remarkably well to beat star-studded Ukraine in Graz on June 6, 2017, with Zach Muscat scoring the winner for the minnows. In December 1983 the Maltese suffered their heaviest loss as they were crushed by Spain 12-1 in Seville.
Everton
Chelsea
Leicester 
Wolves
Manchester United 
Bournemouth
Real Madrid 
Sevilla
Tottenham
Liverpool
Wolfsburg 
Borussia Dortmund
