England VS Wales Match Prediction
2020-10-08
19:00:00
England
VS
Wales
Our Prediction Tip
England will win this match.
2020-10-0819:00:00 England will win this match.
England have won their last five consecutive matches against Wales, most recently coming from behind to win 2-1 at Euro 2016 through Danny Sturridge’s last-gasp winner. Those are the only five times the two teams have met since the end of the Home Championship in 1984.
Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey are out for Wales, while Harry Kane will be rested for England and Raheem Sterling is sidelined.
As a result, this will definitely have the feel of an international friendly about it and, after neither side really caught the eye in their slow-paced returns to international football last month, it could be a low-scoring affair.
England remain favourites, and with in-form Dominic Calvert-Lewin among their likely debutants, they have the firepower to get past Wales.
Wales, on the other hand, will miss Bale and Ramsey far more with less strength in depth – the young players in the squad, such as Matt Smith and Neco Williams, lack first-team football at present.
England will no doubt be glad to be back focusing on football, after Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood last month, and then Tammy Abraham, Jadon Sancho and Ben Chilwell this month, all attracted headlines for the wrong reasons.
They need to improve on last month’s sluggish showings, but with the Premier League back under way and there players finding their feet now, this is a big chance to kick on.
They need momentum going into their Nations League fixtures and this friendly presents an opportunity to find some.
England are odds-on favourites to beat Wales and can be backed at 3/10 with Bet365 and Betway to win this match.
While they did not impress in front of goal last month, they do at least have a good defensive record. England to win to nil is 21/20 with 10Bet, Betway and Bet365.
You can also bet against both teams to score at 14/19 with 10Bet and back under 2.5 goals at 23/20 with Bet365.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is in fine goalscoring form in the Premier League and the Everton striker is 11/10 to score at any time on his England debut.
England and Wales are both missing some key attacking players but the hosts’ strength in depth should shine through.
Nick Pope or Dean Henderson could start in goal ahead of Jordan Pickford, while there could be a debut for Dominic Calvert-Lewin – particularly now Raheem Sterling has withdrawn from the squad injured. Jadon Sancho, Ben Chilwell and Tammy Abraham have been removed from the squad for breaching restrictions, while Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood were not called up having done the same thing when last on England duty. Harry Kane could be rested after Jose Mourinho put pressure on for the Spurs striker to sit this one out.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin – With Raheem Sterling out injured and Harry Kane possibly being rested, the in-form Everton striker has a chance to make a big impression on his debut.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – So key to Liverpool’s style of play, he is yet to show the same consistent form for England but he can prove he is key going forward.
Jack Grealish – Buoyed by Villa’s destruction of Liverpool last weekend, the creative midfielder has another opportunity to impress Gareth Southgate now.
England’s four-game winning streak was ended by a goalless draw with Denmark last time out, having previously needed a 90th-minute Raheem Sterling penalty to beat Iceland. It was an under-whelming return to international football for Gareth Southgate’s side.
Gareth Bale remains sidelined through injury and Aaron Ramsey is not available for this friendly – though he will join up with the squad for the UEFA Nations League matches to come. Hal Robson-Kanu is also out with a broken arm.
Gareth Bale – Scored when these teams last met and, after a frustrating end to his season with Real Madrid, Wales’ all-time top goalscorer will have a point to prove.
Harry Wilson – The Liverpool loanee made a big impression with Derby this season, scoring some spectacular long-range goals.
Daniel James – The match-winner against Slovakia is said to be attracting interest from the likes of Manchester United.
After two defeats in November, including in the UEFA Nations League home match with Denmark, Wales bounced back with two wins in March. The first, in a friendly at Wrexham against Trinidad & Tobago, saw Ben Woodburn snatch a stoppage-time winner in a 1-0 Welsh victory. Daniel James then scored the only goal in Wales’ 1-0 win against Slovakia in their opening Euro 2020 qualifier.
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