A key match in Matchday 6 of the UEFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers will take place on Monday at Nagyerdei Stadium in Debrecen, Hungary, where Israel will compete against Italy. Here’s a look at what to expect.
Match Preview
Israel aims to secure second place in the group. Managed by Ran Ben Shimon, they recently beat Moldova 4-0 and have scored in eight straight matches. Historically strong at home, Israel has lost only once in their last six home qualifiers, often delivering exciting, high-scoring games. This match, however, takes place on neutral ground.
The primary challenge for Israel will be testing their offense against a well-structured defense. Despite being the underdogs, Israel has shown they can score against tougher opponents, with Manor Solomon and Tai Baribo proving difficult for defenders. For Ben Shimon, this match is an opportunity to demonstrate that his team is ready to pursue direct qualification.
Italy, now under the leadership of Gennaro Gattuso, is beginning a new phase with hope. After two consecutive wins by clean sheets, including a notable 5-0 victory over Estonia, the Azzurri are recovering from a lackluster qualifying campaign. Known for their solid defense, they’ve managed to keep clean sheets in 9 of their last 13 qualifiers, making them one of Europe’s most organized teams.
Nonetheless, playing away presents challenges for Italy. They seldom score more than once on the road, and victories can be hard-earned. With Gianluca Scamacca unavailable, Retegui and Kean will carry the attacking burden, supported by midfielders Barella, Tonali, Politano, and Zaccagni. In Debrecen, Italy will need to be resilient to face a determined Israeli team.
Probable Line-ups
- Israel: Peretz; Lemkin, Revivo, Nachmias, Dasa; D. Peretz, Gloukh, E. Peretz, Biton; Baribo, Solomon
- Italy: Donnarumma; Bastoni, Calafiori, Di Lorenzo, Dimarco; Barella, Politano, Tonali, Zaccagni; Kean, Retegui
Match Facts and Head-to-Head
- Israel has scored at least twice in 7 of their last 8 World Cup qualifiers.
- Italy is unbeaten in 11 of their last 13 World Cup qualifying matches.
- In their previous encounter (Nations League 2024), Italy won 2-1 in Israel.
Prediction
Israel is performing well and frequently scores, especially at home. Although Italy offers a strong defense, their away matches are usually low-scoring. A good bet would be “Israel with a +1.5 handicap” at 1.74, as the hosts can certainly challenge the Azzurri.
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