Hellenes vs the new Squadra: prediction for Greece – Italy - 07.06.2026
One of the upcoming international friendlies will take place in Heraklion, where Greece will host Italy. For the hosts, it’s a golden opportunity to finally delight their fans after a prolonged winless streak, while for the visitors, it’s a tough test for an experimental squad that’s just beginning to rebuild after a painful failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Greece: Frustration after qualifying and a search for new identity
Greece is still digesting their disappointing World Cup qualifying campaign: defeats to Denmark and Scotland in the crucial stretch effectively left the team out of the tournament. After a goalless draw with Belarus, the Hellenes couldn’t find a win - losing 0-1 to Paraguay, drawing 0-0 with Hungary, and salvaging a 2-2 draw against Sweden deep into stoppage time.
Jovan Jovanovic is gradually reshaping the team, increasingly experimenting with a three-center-back formation. This setup started from the first whistle against Sweden, but adjustments are possible for Italy: Odysseas Vlachodimos, Georgios Kyriakopoulos, Georgios Vagiannidis, Giorgos Masouras, and Anastasios Douvikas are all close to the starting lineup. It’s crucial for Greece not just to test their structure ahead of the Nations League, but also to capture an emotional spark in front of their home fans.
Italy: Youthful experiment under the pressure of the stands
Italy, after missing out on the 2026 World Cup, is in full rebuild mode: Gennaro Gattuso has departed, there’s no permanent head coach, and Silvio Baldini is in charge on an interim basis. The 1-0 win over Luxembourg was a result on paper, but on the pitch, the young Azzurri looked raw, jittery, and far from their usual composed selves.
The visitors’ lineup will once again be experimental, with the mainstays being Gianluigi Donnarumma, Pietro Comuzzo, Davide Bartesaghi, Niccolò Pisilli, and Francesco Esposito. The loss of Marco Palestra to a muscle injury limits their defensive options, and the biggest challenge for Italy’s youngsters won’t be Greece’s tactics per se, but the intimidating southern crowd. After the subdued atmosphere in Luxembourg, this away trip promises a completely different intensity.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Greece is winless in four straight matches: after a 0-0 draw against Belarus, they lost to Paraguay and drew with Hungary and Sweden.
- Italy’s last match was a 1-0 win over Luxembourg, but it came with an experimental lineup and little margin for error.
- Greece hasn’t beaten Italy since 1972; the Italians have won three of the last five head-to-head encounters.
Prediction
Greece comes into this match with clear motivation: their winless run has dragged on, and a home game against a weakened, experimental Italy looks like a rare chance to change the mood around the team. Jovanovic has a working plan with three central defenders, aggressive wing options, and an atmosphere that could give the hosts an extra edge.
Italy still carries more prestige, but this is not the classic, composed Azzurri - it’s a national team in transition. Baldini’s youngsters bring energy, but under the pressure of the Greek crowd and against a more fired-up opponent, it will be tough for them to maintain consistency for 90 minutes. Expect a scrappy game with chances at both ends, where the hosts, driven by motivation and the home crowd, might just be a bit closer to victory.
