Lee Carsley’s reign as England head coach comes to an end on Sunday. Thomas Tuchel will replace the former Everton midfielder in early 2025. However, the current coach will be restricted in his team selection at Wembley this weekend, with as many as eight first-team players withdrawing from selection.
Harry Kane was particularly irked by the decisions of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Cole Palmer, and Phil Foden to withdraw. However, the Three Lions will still boast an exciting forward line, and their talents are evident from an xG of 1.59 per match at Wembley, scoring six times overall from their last five matches.
Jude Bellingham will likely be deployed in a number ten role, with Harry Kane expected to be recalled to replace Ollie Watkins, who netted against Greece.
Heimir Hallgrimsson and his Irish side have been learning from this year’s edition of the Nations League. However, they look to have avoided automatic relegation to the second tier, and a vibrant and young team will be fielded at Wembley on Sunday.
But, in truth, it is likely the hosts will be a winning England vs Ireland prediction, given how much they struggled against a below-par Three Lions in Dublin. Scoring goals have been a major issue for the Irish throughout the last two years, netting just six in their last ten internationals.
The task of turning the tide will rest on the shoulders of Evan Ferguson and Troy Parrott this weekend, with the forwards set to be deployed in front two. Their pace could be a notable issue for the makeshift England defence.
Bet hereEngland’s defence has been rocky since the EUROs, meaning that Ireland could be expected to achieve success against a makeshift backline.
However, the sheer attacking talent that the Three Lions have at their disposal means that it is hard to overlook the prospect of a home win.
England will dominate the ball in front of their home fans, and the midfield three of Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, and Curtis Jones could dictate the play from the first minute.
While Kane’s return looks a standout scorer angle, it could be worth taking a chance on Bellingham netting at Wembley.
The midfielder has played a starring role for the England throughout the year, including two match-winning moments in the EUROs over the summer. Bellingham has an xG of 0.33 for the Three Lions in the Nations League, scoring once in two appearances.
Alternatively, it could be worth siding with both teams to score on Sunday. Despite boasting excellent attacking talent, England have conceded an average of 0.8 in home matches this season.
Ireland’s high press could cause big issues for the Three Lions, and that is a good approach to the fixture based on the success Greece enjoyed at Wembley last month.
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