MY ACCOUNT
– Seven of England’s last nine Euro home qualifiers were wins featuring over 3.5 goals
– Ukraine have scored 15 goals in their last eight competitive away matches
– Recommended bet: England to win 3-1
England took early control of Group C after securing an historic 2-1 victory over Italy at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples in their opening match on Thursday.
The Three Lions finished that game with 10 men, after Luke Shaw picked up two yellow cards in quick succession in the 78th and 80th minutes, but they held on to win thanks to an early Declan Rice goal and a penalty from Harry Kane, which made him England’s record international goalscorer.
Kane and his fellow forwards should get more chances at Wembley against a Ukraine side beaten 3-0 by Scotland at Hampden Park in the Nations League last September, although the visitors can certainly threaten a goal with some talented players in midfield and attack, including Arsenal’s Oleksandr Zinchenko and Mykhailo Mudryk of Chelsea.
Team news
Shaw is suspended after his red card against Italy and right-back Reece James has pulled out of the squad with an injury.
Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell should deputise for Shaw at left-back, although Kieran Trippier remains an option having been deployed there as a late substitute on Thursday, while Jordan Henderson is on standby to come into midfield if Jude Bellingham is not fit enough to start.
Ukraine’s leading goalscorer Andriy Yarmolenko is still recovering from a hamstring injury so may be fit enough only for the bench.
Defender Ilya Zabarnyi and midfielder Oleksandr Zubkov are sidelined.
The stats
Six of England’s last seven games have had over 2.5 goals.
England were ahead at half-time in seven of their eight wins in 2022 World Cup qualifying.
Seven of England’s last nine European Championship qualifiers at home were victories featuring over 3.5 goals.
The Three Lions scored 39 goals in 10 games in 2022 World Cup qualifying.
Ukraine have scored 15 goals in their last eight competitive away matches.
Four of Ukraine’s last six games were 0-0 at half-time.
Prediction
England tend to rack up the goals in home qualifying matches and that trend should continue against Ukraine at Wembley.
Gareth Southgate’s men, who scored 13 times in their five games at last year’s World Cup, should be full of confidence after Thursday’s away win against Italy, their main rivals for top spot in Group C.
England were not entirely convincing at the back, however, as Harry Maguire showed signs of rustiness following his limited playing time at Manchester United and Ukraine have the creative talent to get on the scoresheet.
They beat Scotland 3-1 in a World Cup play-off semi-final at Hampden Park last June and had nine shots on target in an unfortunate 1-0 defeat to Wales in the final.
The visitors can play their part in an entertaining game at Wembley but England, with record-breaking striker Kane flanked by the likes of Bukayo Saka, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden, should be too slick and the 3-1 home win appeals in the correct-score market.
Back England to win 3-1, available at 17/2 with LiveScore Bet.
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