Scotland have 'grown' against Ireland, now it's time to win
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The Independent
4 minutes ago
- The Independent
England vs Italy betting tips: Euro 2025 semi-final prediction and bet builder
England take on Italy in the semi-finals of Euro 2025 on Tuesday night, with the Lionesses looking to book back-to-back European Championship finals. England came through a dramatic penalty shootout win over Sweden to take their place in the last four, with Lucy Bronze and Hannah Hampton among the heroines as they overcame a 2-0 deficit from the first half. But Sarina Wiegman will know that her side needs to be far better if they're going to have any hope of winning the competition, and that starts on Tuesday against Italy. Though the Italians – who scraped through against Norway with a 90th-minute winner – are not quite as accomplished a side as Sweden, the Lionesses will be wary of underestimating them, with the Azzurre playing their first semi-final in this competition just three years after turning professional. Nevertheless, it is England who are the favourites to go through in Geneva, with football betting sites offering Women's Euros odds of 1/4 for the Lionesses to qualify versus 11/4 for the Italians. England vs Italy prediction: Lionesses to make the final Though the Lionesses are firm favourites ahead of the semi-final, they will be wary of the Italians, who will be playing their first semi-final in this tournament for 28 years. In fact, the country's national federation only approved professional status for their players in 2022, with this semi-final marking the next step in a remarkable rise for the Azzurre. Though they will be understandably fired up, the fact remains that the squad doesn't possess the same level of talent as that of the Lionesses, as shown in the draw with Portugal and narrow win over Belgium. But while England should certainly qualify for the final, they are unlikely to have it all their own way, as shown against Sweden. The Lionesses have conceded goals in all but one of their matches at the tournament so far, with the goals against Wales and Sweden particularly worrying from a defensive point of view. It is perhaps unlikely that England will make as slow a start as they did in the quarter-final, but Italy could well capitalise if they do. Their own recent draw with Sweden in May – despite a squad with less talent than the Swedish – shows that they can punch above their weight. To that end, we're going with a wager on England to win but both teams to score, which is offered at 11/5 with various betting sites. England vs Italy tips: Russo to play key role in semi-final Though Alessia Russo has emerged as England's key goalscoring threat, her performances against the Netherlands and Wales illustrated why she has become such a key member of Wiegman's side, with the Arsenal striker proving an irreplaceable number nine with her hold-up and link play. Though Russo was unable to score against Sweden, she frequently played a part in England's most promising attacking moves and subsequently dispatched her penalty in the shootout. Though the 26-year-old has scored just one goal so far in the tournament (against Wales) she has registered three assists and could get more opportunities against the Azzurre, and perhaps this is her moment to steal the headlines once again, as she did at this stage in 2022 with that memorable backheel. With that in mind, we're going for Russo to score or assist against Italy, which is offered at 4/5 with William Hill. England vs Italy Bet Builder Tips We've pulled together an England vs Italy bet builder using the above predictions. When combined on one slip it pays out at 16/5 with Bet365. Leg 1: England to win Despite some nervy moments against Sweden, England's overall quality should give them the edge again in Geneva. They've reached this stage for a reason and are strong favourites to book a second straight Euros final. Leg 2: Both teams to score England have conceded in three of their four games at Euro 2025, while Italy have found the net in every match so far. With both teams likely to create chances, BTTS looks a solid inclusion. Leg 3: Alessia Russo to score or assist Russo has been central to England's attacking play all tournament. Her strength in link-up play and presence in the box gives her every chance of registering a goal or assist in this semi-final clash. Sports betting can be enjoyable, but it's important to stay in control and gamble responsibly. Whether you are using the best online casino, slot sites, poker sites, or online bookmakers, responsible gambling should always be a priority. All licensed gambling sites in the UK are required to provide tools such as deposit limits, time-outs, self-exclusion, and self-assessment questionnaires. These are designed to help you manage your activity and protect your well-being. Many operators, including online bookmakers and new casino sites, will offer free bets or a casino bonus. While these can be tempting, it is vital to read the terms and conditions of any offer before taking part. If you are concerned about your gambling behaviour, support is available from: We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
BBC News
35 minutes ago
- BBC News
A much-needed fresh start for Ferguson?
When an 18-year-old Evan Ferguson scored his first professional hat-trick in September 2023 it appeared he was destined to join the Premier League's Irishman scored with three of his four shots in Brighton's 3-1 win over Newcastle to earn effusive praise. Alan Shearer labelled him a "special talent" while another goalscoring great Ian Wright highlighted his exceptional movement during his Match of the Day analysis that treble took his Premier League total to 10 goals and only three players have ever bettered that tally prior to their 19th birthday; one was former Everton poacher Francis Jeffers and the other two rank among England's finest ever forwards: But since that eye-catching moment the now 20-year-old has netted only three more times in 44 top-flight appearances and last season he mustered just three shots on target, scoring once: Ferguson's notable decline has been put down to injuries, a loss of confidence and the form of others. The signing of Greek forwards Charalampos Kostoulas and Stefanos Tzimas has pushed him further down the pecking order on the south there is still plenty of time for him to fulfil his undoubted potential and a move to Roma to play under one of Europe's most prized coaches in Gian Piero Gasperini could be just the tonic. The Italian tactician got a tune out of strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Mateo Retegui at his former club Atalanta, and the 67-year-old has a proven track record of developing young players.
The Sun
35 minutes ago
- The Sun
England vs Italy – Women's EURO 2025: Get £50 in free bets with Betfred, plus our bet builder tips
DEFENDING champions England are just one victory away from reaching the Women's EURO 2025 final as they take on rivals Italy in Geneva. To mark the semi-final knockout clash, our team of betting experts has put together a 6/1 Bet Builder for the encounter, courtesy of Betfred. And there's more - new customers who sign up with Betfred and place a £10 bet on football will receive £50 in free sports bets. England vs Italy tips Here's why we've made those selections.. England to win: The Lionesses are expected to reach a second consecutive Euros final with minimal fuss against Italy, who are ranked seven places below beaten quarter-finalists Sweden. England have the experience at the business end of major tournaments, having now reached the semi-finals in six consecutive events. They are also unbeaten in their last five matches against Italy - all friendlies -winning four of them, including a dominant 5–1 victory in February 2024 in Spain. Lauren Hemp to score: The 24-year-old has scored once at these Euros from eight attempts on goal and will have fond memories of this fixture - she found the net in England's 5–1 win over Italy the last time the sides met. Lauren James to score: If there's another flurry of goals, Lauren James is likely to be involved. She has struck twice at these Euros so far, with only forward Alessia Russo recording more attempts on goal. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chase their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – GambleAware – Read our guide on responsible gambling practices. For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites. *New customers only. Register (excl 05/04/25), deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions & T&Cs Apply. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply.
