World Cup
2025-06-09 - Italy vs Moldova
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA World Cup Qualifier
Monday 9th June 2025 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
Italy
Winning Euro 2020 was supposed to start a fresh new era for Italy's national team, but the nation missed Qatar 2022 and failure to reach consecutive World Cup Finals is a huge embarrassment. After the defeat on Match Day 3 in Norway, Italy are already under immense pressure in this World Cup Qualifying Group and may already feel their best hope of getting on the plane to North America is through the Play Off.
They started after the rest of this Group having been involved in Nations League Quarter Final matches in March, but the loss to Norway means Italy are 9 points behind the leaders and already 6 points behind 2nd placed Israel. The side do have games in hand, but the Football Association are clearly hugely concerned and Luciano Spalletti announced he has been Sacked and will leave his role as manager after this fixture.
Italy's defence of their European crown ended very disappointingly in the Second Round at Euro 2024 last summer and they finished behind France in their Nations League Group before losing the Quarter Final to Germany. That tie is part of a 4 game run without a victory during which time Italy have been beaten 3 times and conceded 11 goals overall.
Moldova
In a five team Group, there will always be one that is not in action during a Match Day and it was Moldova in international friendly duty last week when being beaten 2-0 in Poland. The Promotion to League C of the Nations League feels a time ago having started this Qualifying Group poorly and Moldova's ambitions of finishing 4th are already under threat.
They, along with Italy, are still chasing their first World Cup Qualifying points and Moldova are propping up the Group on goal difference. Home losses to Norway and Estonia have put Moldova on the back foot and the rest of this Qualifying campaign is about developing and improving for what is to come next year.
Moldova may have topped their Nations League Group, but they have won 1 of their last 6 games in all competitions and been beaten 4 times in that run, including the last 3 in a row. In their last Euro Qualifying Group, Moldova suffered away losses at Albania and Czechia without scoring a goal, but did force a 1-1 draw in Poland.
Head to Head
Italy crushed Moldova 6-0 in an international friendly in October 2020.
These teams have been involved in two previous Qualifying Groups together and, unsurprisingly, Italy have won all 4 of those fixtures.
Prediction
The biggest surprise may be that Luciano Spalletti was not Sacked after the poor Euro 2024 campaign, but the Football Association could not sit back after the 3-0 defeat in Norway on Match Day 3 of this World Cup Qualifying Group.
Most could not have imagined Italy missing one World Cup, never mind two in a row, and they are now in danger of a third straight Finals without the four time Winners being involved.
The next appointment is so important with Italy most likely having to come through a Play Off to reach the World Cup Finals after the heavy loss to Norway.
You have to believe that Luciano Spalletti can end his tenure by at least getting Italy back on track, although the decision being announced before this game is far from ideal.
Fortunately for Italy they are facing Moldova who have struggled for goals when facing the top nations in the Confederation. A 2-0 defeat in Poland underlined the issue and Moldova also failed to score in losses at Albania and Czechia in their last Qualifying Group.
Moldova have scored in 2 of the 5 previous matches against Italy and should not be underestimated, but the focus for the home team is to pick up the full points and then reassess for the next push.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Italy 3-0 Moldova
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Italy Win to Nil at 1.57 with Bet365
