Italy set to face England in crucial Euro match

Italy has one last opportunity to create a major upset against England during the European Championship.

England faces Italy in a chance for an upset at the Euros

In the context of women's football in Europe, the upcoming match between England and Italy at the Euros is pivotal. Historically, the six favorites for the tournament—England, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden—dominate their matches against the other teams. At Euro 2022 and in the current tournament, Italy has the potential to shake up this pattern as they aim to defeat the reigning champions, England. While Denmark once created an upset against Germany in 2017, the results have largely favored the top teams, leading to a one-sided championship. Currently, 27 matches have been played between the favorites and others in this setup, with 26 wins for the favorites and just a single draw.

The match between England and Italy highlights the ongoing struggle of underdog teams in international women's football. Despite improvements in the overall caliber of the game, the hierarchy remains unchanged. Italy's squad, with promising talents, attempts to emulate the success of nations like England that have invested heavily in women's football. However, without significant breakthroughs in competitive matches, the gap between the favorites and the rest continues to widen. Italy's chance to capitalize on this moment is critical, as an upset could inspire other teams and restore balance to the competition.

Highlights

A successful match for Italy could signal a turning point for underdog teams in women's football.