Having already qualified for Euro 2024 as winners of Group C, there is nothing riding on England’s meeting with Malta at Wembley.
The Three Lions have done the hard work already, picking up five wins and a draw from their opening six qualifying games, including back-to-back wins over European champions Italy. Gareth Southgate’s men remain unbeaten in Group C and should finish qualification without tasting defeat.
First up for England during the November international break are Malta, a side currently ranked as the 171st best team in world football. The minnows, according to FIFA, are the fourth worst nation in Europe and have failed to pick up a single point in qualifying so far.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of England vs Malta this Friday.
England vs Malta H2H record
Current form (last five games)
|
Country |
TV channel / live stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
Channel 4 |
|
United States |
Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports App, foxsports.com, ViX |
|
Canada |
DAZN Canada |
With England‘s upcoming fixtures against Malta and North Macedonia both dead rubbers, Southgate has been hit with a number of withdrawals from his squad.
Jude Bellingham, Levi Colwill, James Maddison, Callum Wilson and Lewis Dunk have all withdrawn from the squad, while Marcus Rashford and Kalvin Phillips are set to join up with England later in the week due to personal reasons.
England’s injuries have paved the way for Cole Palmer, Rico Lewis and Ezri Konsa to all get call-ups, none of whom have caps for the senior national team. As a result, they could all get their first minutes under their belt.
England predicted lineup vs Malta (4-3-3): Johnstone; Lewis, Tomori, Guehi, Trippier; Alexander-Arnold, Rice, Gallagher; Bowen, Watkins, Rashford.
Reims’ Teddy Teuma missed out during the October international break, but should be fit to return in Malta’s midfield.
English-born striker Jodi Jones, who currently plays for League Two Notts County, should also find his way back into the Malta team.
Malta predicted lineup vs England (5-3-2): Bonnello; Mbong, S. Borg, Pepe, J. Borg, Camenzuli; Teuma, Guillaumier, Muscat; Jones, Nwoko.
Regardless of how much Southgate rotates his England side ahead of Malta’s visit, it should be a comfortable victory for the Three Lions.
It should be another goal-fest for England and another clean sheet to match, with some good opportunities for fringe players to make an impression.
Prediction: England 4-0 Malta
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