Each day our exclusive MATCH OF THE DAQ service previews the big match of the day – usually a televised game.

As well as the preview we also bring you the head to head records of the two teams as well as a recommended bet on BETDAQ for the match.

England v Italy
European Championships
K.O 19.45, BBC1

HEAD-TO-HEAD
(Max last 10 only)
27 Mar 2002 Friendly England 1 Italy 2
15 Nov 2000 Friendly Italy 1 England 0
11 Oct 1997 World Cup Qualifying Italy 0 England 0
04 Jun1997 Friendly England 2 Italy 0
12 Feb 1997 World Cup Qualifying England 0 Italy 1
07 Jul 1990 World Cup Italy 2 England 1
15 Nov 1989 Friendly England 0 Italy 0
15 Jun 1980 European Championship England 0 Italy 1
16 Nov 1977 World Cup Qualifying England 2 Italy 0
17 Nov 1976 World Cup Qualifying Italy 2 England 0

PREVIEW
Both England and Italy have hardly had to perform like world-beaters to make the quarter-finals and if the media is to be believed then the former have already wildly exceeded expectations, by not just qualifying for the last eight, but actually winning Group D.

Roy Hodgson has brought stability to the England set-up and the atmosphere in the camp seems a far cry from the sterile reign of Fabio Capello. However, despite averaging two goals a game so far, England looked exceptionally poor in possession for much of their group games and conceded some poor goals. If they have any aspirations of progressing further they must keep the ball better.

The Italian’s have found themselves embroiled in a match-fixing scandal for the third major footballing tournament in their history. The bad news for England? They won the other two. The media scrutiny seems to unite the squad and they have looked a solid, if unspectacular, side this month.

Cesare Prandelli’s men may have regretted not taking all three points in their opening 1-1 clash with Spain having taken the lead and looking the better side for long periods. They started off brightly again in a 1-1 draw with Croatia but they seem to visibly tire in the last 20 minutes of their games; a weakness England will hope to exploit.

In Mario Balotelli they have an unpredictable player who will be all too familiar to many in the England team but it remains to be seen whether Prandelli risks starting his enigma in such a big game. Wayne Rooney will lead the Three Lions attack with Steven Gerrard out to further his claims as player of the tournament after a brilliant start.

Italy have a marginally better head-to-head record against England but there is rarely much between the sides and a draw seems the most probable outcome, with no team likely to want to commit too many players forward.

RECOMMENDATION: (1-10 points)
Back the draw at around 3.1 on BETDAQ: 5 points

Saturday: -4 points
JUNE RETURN TO DATE: +51.76 points

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