Italy was unbeaten in the previous three
against Belgium in a major
international tournament. Two of these meetings have played the European Championship
(0-0 in 1980, 2-0 to the Azzurri in 2000).
Match Details:
Belgium vs. Italy
UEFA EURO 2016 Group stage
Date: 13 June; Time: 3:00 PM
Venue: Parc Olympique Lyonnais
The last
five games between Belgium and Italy
have produced 18 goals, an average of 3.6 per game. It is the first time that
Belgium is the qualification to a European (2000 excluded, as the host country)
since 1984, last edition held in France. On that occasion did not pass the
group stage.
The best
result of Belgium to the finals of a European in 1980, finished second after
losing the final against West Germany (2-1). Belgium has lost five of their
last seven games played in a European.
Nevertheless,
Belgium has won the last two games
of their inaugural Europeans (against Yugoslavia in 1984 and against Sweden in
2000). During the qualifiers Belgium fielded the youngest team with an average
age of 25 years and 8 months (calculated at the end of that phase).
For Italy it
is the ninth participation in the final stages of a European Championship. The Azzurri have won the trophy once (1968)
but also reached the final in two of the last four editions (2000, 2012). Italy
was one of four teams (with Austria, England and Romania) to remain undefeated
in the qualifying round at this European Championship.
