Kick-off: 1945, 17/11/2023
Stadium: Wembley
TV: Channel 4
England continue their Euro 2024 qualification campaign against Malta knowing they have already secured a place at next summer’s tournament.
The Three Lions sealed a spot in Germany with victory over Italy last month and take on a Malta side that have lost all seven Group C games.
Gareth Southgate will want his team to get the game sewn up quickly before making changes, so the first half to have more goals at 37/20 is our first England vs Malta prediction.
Southgate salutes leader Kane
England have made a tricky looking group, which includes Ukraine and Italy, on paper look easy with five wins and a draw.
They completed the double over Italy at Wembley, fighting back from Gianluca Scamacca’s early goal to claim a 3-1 win courtesy of Harry Kane’s double and Marcus Rashford’s strike.
Bayern Munich striker Kane has bagged 24 goals in 19 games for club and country this season.
Southgate said: “He’s moved to a big club abroad, which isn’t straightforward, but he’s adaptable unbelievably well. So I think the confidence he will take from that will be enormous.
“Any team, any country would love him as their number nine. It’s not just his ability to score goals. His creative play, his passing, his hold-up play. And I think he’s pressing and working for the team as well as any stage of his career.
“So he really has relished the leadership, the captaincy, loves playing for England, never misses out – touch wood. So he really is a top level player.”
Back-up striker battle ‘an even fight’
Kane is likely to start the game before making way, with Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins set to be next in line after Callum Wilson’s injury and Ivan Toney’s ban.
Southgate added: “Next striker into Harry there’s competition. I don’t think anybody’s quite nailed that down yet. I’d say that’s an even fight between a few.
“Ivan’s obviously got a tougher challenge than a lot of the players because he has got that limited time frame but we think he’s got some really good attributes.”
England cruised to a 4-0 victory in Malta, opening the scoring in the eighth minute before taking a 3-0 half-time lead.
The hosts to score in the first 10 minutes is 21/10 in the England vs Malta odds.
Malta are the whipping boys of the group, sitting rock bottom and pointless after scoring only two goals and conceding 18 in seven outings.
They performed admirably in away games against North Macedonia and Ukraine, losing by one goal, before a 4-0 hammering in Italy.
England matched Italy in the first game against Malta and, despite injuries to the likes of John Stones, James Maddison and Jude Bellingham, will fancy their chances of another big win.
A 4-0 triumph for the home side at 5/1 completes our England vs Malta betting tips.
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