England v Australia: Southgate may keep powder dry for crucial Italy clash
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England v Australia betting tips and odds
England welcome Australia to Wembley on Friday night for a friendly ahead of next week’s crucial Euro 2024 qualifier with Italy.
Gareth Southgate will have one eye on the clash with the European champions, who are six points behind the Three Lions in Group C having played one game fewer.
We’ve looked at the markets and picked out some England v Australia betting tips ahead of the match.
Southgate to make changes
Clearly, Italy is the match that matters most to Southgate during the international break, with the friendly against Australia giving him the chance to assess different players.
With Bukayo Saka out injured, Southgate may also opt to hold back the likes of John Stones, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane for the visit of the Italians.
That could allow in-form forwards Jarrod Bowen and Ollie Watkins the opportunity to impress, with uncapped duo Levi Colwill and Eddie Nketiah potentially making their debuts.
Bowen said: “The way I started this season I’m probably playing the best football that I’ve played in my career. I have got four caps and I am massively grateful for them but that Wembley one…
“As a little boy you dream of playing for your country and you never think it is going to happen but now I am here I want to play at Wembley and hopefully I get the opportunity to do so.”
With Bowen a likely starter, the West Ham forward looks an interesting prospect at 17/10 to get on the scoresheet as the next of our England v Australia betting tips, while he can also be backed at 5/1 to break the deadlock.
Despite the likely changes, England are still 1/5 favourites to beat a side who were only just knocked out of the 2022 World Cup to eventual winners Argentina in the last 16 in Qatar.
With the shackles off in a game that has no importance to either side, we like the #GetAPrice offer of 6/5 on England to win either half, England over 1.5 goals in the match and England to keep a clean sheet as the first of our England v Australia betting tips.
Australia up against it
The Aussies are 16/1 to pull off a shock win at the home of English football.
Graham Arnold’s side have only won once since the World Cup, a 3-1 victory over Ecuador, who then avenged that defeat four days later. The Socceroos then lost 2-0 to world champions Argentina in June and three months later shared a 2-2 draw with Mexico, having thrown away a 2-0 lead.
Australia, who also face New Zealand at Brentford next week, will surely struggle to contain an England side who recently beat Malta 4-0, North Macedonia 7-0 and Scotland 3-1.
Midfielder Massimo Luongo said: “England are one of the best in the world. We’re alright, we’re doing well, we’re a good Australia team. People underestimate that. No matter who you play I think Aussies have that DNA that you don’t just roll over and give up.”
England will fancy their chances of a victory ahead of next week’s crucial match, but it may not be the cakewalk some are expecting, so a 2-0 win at 9/2 is the last of our England v Australia betting tips.
Match Info
Where: Wembley Stadium
When: 19:45, Friday 13th October
How to watch: Channel 4
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
