Italy and Germany prepare to renew hostilities as the Nations League resumes.

Italy vs Germany best bets

Italy and Germany are preparing to renew hostilities as the Nations League resumes.

The two European heavyweights will clash in the last eight of the competition during the current international break, with San Siro set to host the first instalment of their two-legged tie on Thursday night.

After a disappointing showing at last summer's European Championship saw them lose to Switzerland in the round of 16, Italy bounced back in superb fashion in the group stage of the Nations League.

Completing an unbeaten campaign, they finished level on points with France at the summit of Group A, nine clear of third-placed Belgium.

This is not a vintage Italian squad and it would be a slight surprise if they went all the way in the Nations League, but Luciano Spalletti has at least moved the team forward over the last six months.

Unlike the Azzurri, Germany flattered to deceive at Euro 2024. Granted, they did have home advantage on their side, but they were narrowly defeated by Spain in the quarter-finals. In fact, the eventual champions may have been the Nationalelf's toughest opponents.

However, they were certainly not the best side that reached the last eight, with England, France, Portugal and the Netherlands all performing better in the group phase.

Yet, despite struggling to win over viewers, Germany reached the last eight and they will be looking to continue their run in the knockout phase.

They cruised to first place in their group, collecting 14 points (second only to Spain), scoring a tournament-high 18 goals, and conceding a joint-low four.

However, they are not at full strength during this international break, with Manuel Neuer having retired from international football and his long-time understudy Marc-Andre ter Stegen out injured.

Completing a miserable run of injuries for the visitors, attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz and the versatile Kai Havertz will also play no part in the quarter-finals.

On the other hand, Federico Dimarco is the only notable absentee for Italy, with the Inter defender having pulled a muscle earlier this month.

Italy have long been considered Germany’s bogey team, with the former eliminating the latter from the World Cups of 1970, 1982 and 2006, as well as at Euro 2012.

Germany got the better of Italy at Euro 2016, though, and the Azzurri have not won any of the last six clashes between the pair. Will that trend continue on Thursday?

Italy vs Germany best bets

Draw

Germany are the bookies’ favourites to advance to the semi-finals, but they could be in for a tough game at San Siro.

Italy line up with three at the back and they should have some success in smothering a Germany frontline that will be spearheaded by either Tim Kleindienst or Jonathan Burkardt.

Both of those strikers are enjoying excellent seasons in the Bundesliga, but with six caps between them they are inexperienced at this level.

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Whether Italy have enough about them to win remains to be seen. Germany have not lost a competitive match in 90 minutes since World Cup 2022.

At the very least, though, this clash at San Siro could be a good opportunity to get involved in the handicap market.

Considering that Germany are 1 1/2-ball favourites with bet365, perhaps a small bet on Italy +1 at 1/1 with Clearbet could be interesting.

But if we’re looking for a best bet, then we’re going to go for the draw at 11/5 with SBK.

If you prefer to bet on the total goals market, then under 2.5 goals is 13/20 with Paddy Power.

Under 2.5 goals

As mentioned above, Germany will play with a new-look attack against Italy. Jamal Musiala is a source of familiarity, but none of Burkardt, Kleindienst, Deniz Undav, Karim Adeyemi or Nadiem Amiri has made more than five appearances for the national team.

Germany may therefore lack some of their usual rhythm. And although they scored 18 goals in the group phase, nine of those came against whipping boys Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Italy were the top scorers in their group, finding the back of the net 13 times - one more than France. They certainly carried more of a threat in the final third than they did at Euro 2024.

On this occasion, though, defence could prove to be the best form of attack. Italy will go without the ball for relatively long periods of the first leg, which will limit their opportunities at the other end. Spalletti will be keen to keep