England vs Malta predictions: Three Lions can cruise to victory
- England’s last two victories over Malta have been by a 4-0 scoreline
- Three of England’s last four competitive matches have featured at least four goals
- Recommended bet: England to win 4-0
England are safely through to Euro 2024 but they will be looking to maintain high standards when hosting Malta in their penultimate Group C fixture.
The Wembley encounter is the seventh meeting between the teams and each of the previous six have been won by the Three Lions.
Gareth Southgate’s side are assured of finishing in first place and will fully expect to register a 14th successive home win in European Championship qualifiers.
Malta have lost all of their seven Group C fixtures, including a 4-0 loss at home to England in June.
Team news
Jude Bellingham and Levi Colwill (both shoulder) have followed James Maddison, Callum Wilson and Lewis Dunk in withdrawing from the squad.
John Stones, Reece James, Ben Chilwell and Luke Shaw are also injured and Raheem Sterling continues to be overlooked.
Cole Palmer, Ezri Konsa and Rico Lewis could make their first senior international appearances.
Jamaican-born attacker Kemar Reid gained Maltese citizenship in October and is pushing to earn his first cap.
Midfielder Teddy Teuma and attacker Jodi Jones have recovered from injuries for the visitors which ruled them out of last month’s fixtures.
The stats
England have won each of their five competitive matches against Malta without conceding a goal. They have won the last two by a 4-0 scoreline.
The Three Lions have triumphed in each of their last four home matches and three of those successes have been accompanied by clean sheets.
England are unbeaten in their last 16 home European Championship qualifiers and have won 14 of them.
Malta have lost their last 16 European Championship qualifiers.
The Mediterranean minnows have lost their last eight competitive fixtures.
They have lost all of their seven matches in Euro 2024 qualifying Group C, scoring just two goals in the process.
Prediction
England could triumph by a familiar scoreline at Wembley on Friday, when anything other than a home cruise would be a surprise.
Gareth Southgate’s selection has been complicated by the withdrawals of key players, including outstanding midfielder Jude Bellingham and defensive regular John Stones.
But he has a strong group to select from, including in-form attackers Harry Kane, Ollie Watkins, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Jarrod Bowen and even though qualification is assured, the hosts will still want to impress.
Southgate will look to get the most out of the November matches (at home to Malta and away to North Macedonia) by utilising the majority of his squad, but he should have no problem coming up with a winning combination against the Maltese, who remain pointless with a goal difference of minus 16.
Malta are boosted by the availability of influential duo Teddy Teuma and Jodi Jones, who missed their October losses away to Italy (0-4) and at home to Ukraine (1-3).
But their mission appears to be one of damage limitation with goalkeeper Henry Bonello assured of a busy evening.
Malta have not conceded more than four goals in any of their last 19 games, though, and they can limit England to a four-goal victory margin again.
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