England will face Belgium at Wembley Stadium in the Nations League on Sunday, with the Three Lions surprisingly installed favourites to win the tie despite the Red Devils being the number one ranked team in world football.
UEFA Nations League A, Group 2
Sunday 11 October
Wembley Stadium
18:00
To Win
England 29/20
Draw 23/10
Belgium 18/10
England
England were far from convincing in their Nations League matches last month as they needed a late penalty to beat Iceland 1-0 and mustered just two attempts on target in their goalless draw away to Denmark.
Gareth Southgate has come under fire following those underwhelming performances and the 50-year-old will look to silence his critics and lead his team to a statement victory against the world’s top-ranked side.
England know they’ll face a tough test against a star-studded Belgium team who beat them twice in the 2018 World Cup, including the third-place playoff match.
But with Harry Kane, Jack Grealish, Raheem Sterling and Dominic Calvert-Lewin all in good form for their respective clubs and Ben Chilwell back on the pitch following a long injury layoff, the Three Lions will fancy their chances of overcoming the Red Devils.
England squad:
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Manchester United), Nick Pope (Burnley), Jordan Pickford (Everton).
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Conor Coady (Wolves), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Michael Keane (Everton), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid), Kyle Walker (Manchester City).
Midfielders: Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United), Declan Rice (West Ham), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Harry Winks (Tottenham).
Forwards: Tammy Abraham (Chelsea), Harvey Barnes (Leicester), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Danny Ings (Southampton), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City).
Belgium
Roberto Martinez’s side have won their last 12 matches without breaking a sweat, scoring 47 goals while conceding just four.
In their two Nations League fixtures last month, the Red Devils beat Denmark 2-0 in Copenhagen and thrashed Iceland 5-1 in Brussels, with Napoli’s Dries Mertens scoring in both games.
Belgium will seek to continue their winning momentum in the Nations League and put the Three Lions to the sword on Sunday.
Martinez is the only manager to beat Southgate twice as England boss, winning both ties at the 2018 World Cup, and the Spaniard will be confident of another victory.
The Red Devils fancy their chances of winning every time they step onto the field and after seeing Harry Maguire, Joe Gomez and Trent Alexander-Arnold have a defensive horror show in the Premier League last weekend, the likes of Mertens, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku will look to wreak havoc.
Belgium squad:
Goalkeepers: Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg), Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Simon Mignolet (Club Brugge), Hendrik Van Crombrugge (Anderlecht).
Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham), Sebastiaan Bornauw (Cologne), Dedryck Boyata (Hertha BSC), Jason Denayer (Lyon), Leander Dendoncker (Wolves), Brandon Mechele (Club Brugge), Zinho Vanheusden (Standard Liege), Jan Vertonghen (Benfica), Timothy Castagne (Leicester City), Thomas Meunier (Borussia Dortmund).
Midfielders: Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid), Nacer Chadli (Istanbul Basaksehir), Joris Kayembe (Charleroi), Alexis Saelemaekers (AC Milan), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Dennis Praet, Youri Tielemans (both Leicester City), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge), Axel Witsel (Borussia Dortmund).
Forwards: Dodi Lukebakio (Hertha BSC), Dries Mertens (Napoli), Divock Origi (Liverpool), Leandro Trossard (Brighton), Yari Verschaeren, Jeremy Doku (both Anderlecht), Michy Batshuayi, Christian Benteke (both Crystal Palace), Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan).
Prediction: Belgium Win (18/10)
Belgium are in excellent form and I’m tipping them to extend their winning streak. Having won the last two meetings against England, the Red Devils are well worth a punt at 18/10, but if you really want to play it safe then take the Double Chance – Draw + Belgium at 5/10.
Written by Chad Nagel