Malta vs England predictions for Friday’s Euro 2024 qualifiers. Can England keep their 100 per cent start in Group C with a clear win in Malta? Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
Match Live Friday, 16th June at 7:45 pm In:
Malta vs England Predictions
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A Clash of Opposites
Key Stats
– Malta have suffered 11 successive defeats in Euro qualifying since March 2019, with only two goals scored in this period.
– England’s Harry Kane has set a new record as the country’s top goalscorer in European Championship qualifiers, scoring his 55th goal in the recent match against Italy.
As the Euro 2024 qualifying games take the spotlight, Malta, presently occupying the last position in Group C, hosts England, the group’s leading team, at the National Stadium in Ta’ Qali. It’s a face-off that tells a tale of two extreme opposites; an underdog fighting for its first major tournament entry versus a formidable team fresh off two back-to-back wins over Italy and Ukraine.
Malta’s Struggle at the Bottom
Malta’s football journey paints a vivid picture of continuous struggle, especially in its recent bid to escape the backwaters of League D in the UEFA Nations League. It hasn’t been a rosy start for the Maltese under the guidance of Coach Michele Marcolini, with the team conceding defeat twice and consequently sitting at the bottom of the section.
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With a current world ranking of 172nd, Malta’s performance in the opening games, including a 2-1 loss to North Macedonia, showed that their path to a first-ever Euros final remains a daunting task. A 2-0 loss to Italy further cemented the mountainous challenge that lies ahead.
The good news is that Malta broke a three-game losing streak recently against Luxembourg, courtesy of a second-half header by Kyrian Nwoko. However, the bad news is their struggle to keep clean sheets at home; their only clean sheet in the last seven home games was against San Marino. The Maltese side also need to work on its attack, having scored only two goals since their last victory against the Faroe Islands in March 2019.
England’s Impressive Streak
On the other end of the spectrum, Gareth Southgate’s England have been riding the wave of success as they currently lead Group C following convincing victories over Italy and Ukraine. It was a memorable night for Harry Kane, who set a new record as England’s top goalscorer during the match against Italy.
Bukayo Saka, the young Arsenal star, played a pivotal role in their victory over Ukraine, setting up Kane’s 55th goal and scoring a stunning second goal himself. With 19 wins from their last 20 European Championship qualifying games, England’s attacking prowess, coupled with a strong defence, has kept them as firm favourites in Group C.
Notably, England have maintained an unbeaten record against Malta, with all five of their previous meetings resulting in victories, with an impressive aggregate scoreline of 14-1.
Key Players to Watch
For Malta: Kyrian Nwoko’s recent performance against Luxembourg has shed a ray of hope for Malta. His aerial prowess and opportunistic strikes make him a threat in the box. Can Nwoko seize a rare scoring chance to trouble England’s defence?
For England: Young Bukayo Saka’s exceptional performance against Ukraine makes him a player to watch. His speed, dribbling, and keen eye for creating goal opportunities have been instrumental in recent matches. Will Saka add more flair to England’s attack?
What the Coaches Say
Michele Marcolini, Malta’s coach, in the pre-match press conference, expressed, “We know we are facing one of the best teams in Europe, but we have prepared well. We will fight with everything we have and hope to give our fans something to cheer about.”
Gareth Southgate, the England coach, responded, “We are not underestimating Malta. They showed their potential in their recent match against Luxembourg. However, we are in good form, and our players are determined to maintain our winning streak.”
The Predicted Outcomes
Against this backdrop, let’s now venture into our predictions. There is pretty good value in William Hill Bet Builder which is made of three selections returning odds of 9/2: Over 2 Goals, Over 3 Cards, and Over 10 Corners. Let’s see why this bet is in my opinion the way to go in this match.
Over 2 Goals: This selection predicts that more than two goals will be scored during the match. Considering England’s potent attacking prowess, there’s a high probability that this prediction will come true. England, led by prolific scorer Harry Kane, have been consistent in finding the back of the net multiple times in recent matches.
Over 3 Cards: This prediction expects more than three yellow or red cards to be issued during the game. This might be the result of the physical style of play that underdog teams like Malta frequently use to disrupt the English team’s rhythm. The referees in international matches are also known for being strict, increasing the likelihood of cards.
Over 10 Corners: This selection predicts that there will be more than ten corners during the match. England’s attacking style typically results in many corners, and Malta’s defensive approach could lead to more corners conceded.
Expect A Routine Job From The Three Lions
We expect that England will dominate the match and secure a victory with a 4-0 scoreline that makes sense in the correct score market. Given England’s track record in the qualifiers, this result won’t be a surprise. England’s attack, spearheaded by Harry Kane, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka, is more than capable of scoring multiple goals against Malta’s defense.
On the defensive end, England’s solid backline, led by Harry Maguire and John Stones, has been successful in keeping clean sheets in the past, making a 4-0 victory a distinct possibility.
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