England v Malta: Kane can kickstart Three Lions rout
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Euro 2024 qualifying: England v Malta betting tips
England are 1/66 favourites to defeat Malta in their final Euro 2024 qualifier at Wembley on Friday night as they target an unbeaten campaign in Group C.
The Three Lions came from behind to beat Italy in a 3-1 victory in north London last month to seal their spot in Germany next summer and dent the hopes of the defending European champions in the process.
They face a Malta side who have yet to pick up a single point heading into their eighth and final qualification game. The visitors have scored only once in six head-to-head fixtures against England, who netted four or more in three of those games, including the last two.
We have looked at some of the odds and markets to pick out a few England v Malta betting tips.
Injuries dent Southgate plans
England have already secured their place at Euro 2024 with two games to spare so it is a good opportunity for Gareth Southgate to rotate his side in a more meaningful match than a friendly.
England ran out 4-0 winners in the reverse fixture in June when a Ferdinando Apap own goal got the ball rolling before Trent Alexander-Arnold doubled the lead with a powerful long-range strike. Harry Kane and Callum Wilson penalties sealed a comfortable win at Ta’Qali National Stadium.
Liverpool defender Alexander-Arnold excelled in a more advanced role in midfield and could be given the oppotunity once again after James Maddison was ruled out until January with an ankle injury.
Southgate has been hindered by injury issues ahead of this international window, with Jude Bellingham, Levi Colwill, John Stones, James Maddison, Lewis Dunk and Callum Wilson all missing.
That has presented opportunities for Ezri Konsa, Cole Palmer and Rico Lewis to win their first senior call-ups and they could feature at some point against the Group C minnows.
No matter what team Southgate puts out, England should win comfortably on Friday night. The last two matches have resulted in 4-0 victories and it is 9/2 for a repeat of that scoreline in the first of our England v Malta betting tips.
Captain Kane to continue brilliant form
Kane has begun life at Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich with a bang after scoring a staggering 19 goals in 15 appearances since his £100million switch from Tottenham in the summer.
Since scoring a double against Italy last month, he has netted in each of the six matches he has featured for Bayern in all competitions, which included successive hat-tricks in his 12-goal spell.
His record for England during European qualification has been equally as impressive, scoring seven times in six fixtures and he will be the obvious candidate to score the first goal if he starts.
Kane did just that in a World Cup qualifier between the two sides in September 2017 and is 15/8 to be the first on the scoresheet as the next of our England v Malta betting predictions, although it is worth checking the line-ups an hour before kick-off.
Due to the home side being heavy favourites, finding value in this sort of fixture can be difficult, but the Three Lions to be leading after 15 minutes catches the eye at 29/20 as the next of our England v Malta betting tips.
England’s opener in Malta came in the eighth minute, while the visitors have conceded inside the first quarter of an hour in two of their last three qualifiers.
For those who like to dabble in the Bet Builder markets, it is 11/1 for Three Lions to be ahead by the 15th-minute mark, win both halves and to secure a 4-0 victory.
Seven players are odds-on in the anytime goalscorer market, but Declan Rice looks tasty at 4/1 as the last of our England v Malta predictions.
Rice has scored twice for Arsenal this season, is almost certain to start in midfield in the absence of Bellingham and netted his third international goal in the 2-1 win against Italy in their opening qualifier.
Match Info
Where: Wembley Stadium
When: 19:45, Friday 17th November
How to watch: Channel 4
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
