Italy vs. Ireland Betting Odds Preview, Euro 2016 Prediction

After clinching top spot on the Group E table, Italy will be gunning for a fifth straight clean-sheet victory when they wrap up their group-stage schedule Wednesday, taking on Ireland as -145 betting favorites (bet $145 to win $100) at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark.

Desperate for a win to keep their distant hopes of advancing to the knockout stage alive, Ireland trail on the three-way match odds as heavy underdogs.

Match Odds: Italy -145, Republic of Ireland +355, Draw +245 (Matchup Report)

Italy are already assured of a first-place finish in Group E and could be in line to rest starters Wednesday as they close out group-stage action against Ireland. The Azzurri have already exceeded expectations at Euro 2016, which they entered trailing the favorites at +1600 odds to win the tournament.

The club now take a six-game win streak in qualifying and tournament contests into Wednesday afternoon's matchup at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, including an impressive 2-0 win in their tournament opener over an underachieving Belgium squad currently sitting at No. 2 on the FIFA World Ranking.

With a 1-0 win over Sweden in their last outing, the Italians have outscored opponents by a 6-0 margin over their past four games and will likely rest a number of key starters, including the likes of goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, midfielder Daniele De Rossi and defender Giorgio Chiellini.

While Italy look toward the knockout stage, Ireland must win and produce offense to stay in the hunt for a round-of-16 berth. Ireland have earned a single point to date with a 1-1 draw against Sweden, but they remain winless at the Euro since 1988.

There is nowhere to go but up for this Irish squad. They were badly outclassed in a 3-0 loss to Belgium, leaving them winless in their past five overall and seven of their past nine games.

A victory over Italy would improve Ireland to four points and likely leave them in the thick of the race among other third-place finishers. But with a current goal differential of minus-three, the Irish offense will need to regularly find the Italian net to bolster their chances of advancing.

Ireland must also reverse their dismal historical record against Italy, which has seen them win just two of 14 all-time matches. Their sole victory in tournament play came 22 years ago—a 1-0 win in the group stage of the 1994 World Cup.

Italy vs. Republic of Ireland Prediction: 2-1 Italy

All betting lines data courtesy of Odds Shark. Check out the latest Euro 2016 news.