The 2018 World Cup was missing a few big nations but perhaps none as big as Italy. The next 12 months are important for the Italians as they look to prove that they are a force to be reckoned with, and they can compete with the best teams around. The UEFA Nations League begins this week, and Italy have a relatively comfortable start at home to Poland, a game they should be winning and will no doubt be trying their best to win after being out of the limelight this summer.

The Nations League is a new concept brought in by FIFA to prevent fans from watching uncompetitive friendlies that are very one-sided. Instead of this, teams will be placed in leagues with teams who are ranked similar to them in the FIFA rankings, and then drawn into groups where they will play their opponents home and away. This eliminates the chances of teams paying far lower opposition and it also gives teams someting to play for. Those in League A, which Italy are, can go onto the final next June and lift the Nations League trophy, so teams will take this competition seriously.

Another incentive is something that will really interest Italy, and that is qualification for Euro 2020. The 16 group winners from the Nations League will all receive a place in the Euro 2020 qualification playoffs if they need it, giving them a second chance to qualify. With Italy missing out on the last major tournament, they will be desperate to qualify for the next and with the Nations League offering a genuine chance to do that they are sure to take it seriously.

If you would like to read more about how the UEFA Nations League works then our guide to the league will explain everything and tell you all you need to know.

Poland 2018 World Cup Misery

Poland did make it to the World Cup this summer, but unfortunately for them it was a very disappointing experience. They were given a chance by the draw, facing Colombia, Senegal and Japan but eventually finished bottom of their group with three points after one win and two defeats.

A big part of their success when qualifying for the World Cup was star striker Robert Lewandowski, but unfortunately he couldn’t get going this summer. In their three group games Poland scored just twice, a record that is simply not good enough at the highest level. Going forward over the next year or two Lewandowski will again be relied upon by his nation, and any success in the Nations League is going to be down to him and his goals.

However, there is a bigger picture to look at for the Poles and that is who will replace Lewandowski when he retires? He is now 30 year old and not only their best player, but also the captain of his nation, meaning he will leave not only one big hole behind, but two. Polish football has done well recently, but they face a huge moment over the next few years, when Lewandowski hands over the baton to someone else and the team has to find a way to progress without him.

Time for The Italians to Fight Back?

While we have mentioned that Poland have a huge moment coming up over the next few years for their football team, it could be said that the big moment for the Italian team is right now. A team like Italy should not be failing to qualify for a World Cup, and they have to ensure that they have a good couple of years, which will ultimately end with a good performance at Euro 2020.

This may not be a vintage crop of Italian football players, but they do have quality in the team, and certainly enough to compete with the teams around them. While they may be a few years away from winning a tournament, qualifying is all that is on their mind right now, and something that the fans are going to demand starting with 2020.

If there is one team that should excel and perform to the best of their ability in the Nations League then it has to be Italy. They must do all they can to aid their qualification chances for Euro 2020, and the Nations League can help them out if they need it. Their hope will be to qualify by winning their group, but there is nothing wrong with having a backup and keeping their options open.

I don’t think the Italians would be able to forgive themselves if they didn’t take the Nations League seriously, and somehow failed to qualify for Euro 2020 through the group stages, so expect them to go all out and play well in the games they have in this competition.

Italy vs Poland Betting Tips

While I do expect both of these teams to take this game seriously, there is no doubt that this game means much more to Italy and they are going to be going all out to win this tie for their fans. The team will remember the World Cup, and they will know their fans sat at home watching many other top clubs play, while Italy didn’t get through to the finals.

Poland are a team that did play in Russia, but they were a huge disappointment and they begin their Nations League campaign looking to show they are capable of mixing it with the better teams in League A. I personally don’t think they are good enough to be doing that, and I think they are going to be one of the teams relegated to League B, which will be a better match for their level. The next couple of years will determine how far Poland can go in the future, because they have to find a replacement for Robet Lewandowski, a player who has carried them with his goals for many years. While it may not be the best time for Polish football over the next few years, it is certainly going to be an interesting time.

Going back to this game on Friday and I simply have to back the Italians to win this one. They are the better team on paper, they have something to prove to their fans and they have a reason to perform well in this competition, becasue anything other than qualifying for Euro 2020 would be a complete disaster. Often in international football it is better to stick with those that have a big reason to go out and perform well and this game appears to be a prime example of that. Italy need to win this game and I think they will.

Receive exclusive betting tips and offers directly to your inbox. Receive exclusive betting tips and offers. SIGN UP