European World Cup qualifying begins this Friday with England and Wales both among the countries in action due to their groups not containing teams still involved in the 2024/24 Nations League.
The Three Lions are set to face Albania at Wembley in their first game under new manager Thomas Tuchel, while Craig Bellamy bids to extend his unbeaten run as Welsh boss to seven games following his arrival in the position last summer. Both are expected to win comfortably.
European World Cup Qualifiers Matchday 1 tips
England (-2) to win @ 13/10
Under 0.5 Andorra goals vs Latvia @ 1/1
Wales (-2) to beat Kazakhstan @ 7/5
Bet on the latest England odds at Betzone
Tuchels troops can ease to victory against toothless visitors
England came good on the (-2) handicap in both their last two games under interim manager Lee Carsley, beating Greece 3-0 in Athens and Ireland 5-0 at Wembley.
They’re 13/10 to win by at least a three-goal margin for the third game in succession in their first outing of the Tuchel era and should be on it from minute one trying to impress the new boss.
Opponents Albania were beaten 5-0 the last time they played England back in 2021 and look unlikely to improve on the zero they registered on that occasion. Slyvinho’s side have failed to net in four of their last five internationals.
Tip: England (-2) to win @ 13/10
Andorra big price to blank again given woeful scoring record
The Pyrenees principality of Andorra have failed to score in their last 10 competitive internationals and they’re readily backed to continue that sorry streak at Evens.
Visitors Latvia played at a higher level in the recently concluded Nations League Group Stage (C4 to Andorra’s D2). Having kept two clean sheets against the League-C-level Faroe Islands in 2024 the drop down in class here can see them claim another shutout.
Tip: Under 0.5 Andorra goals vs Latvia @ 1/1
Dragons well up to putting three past porous Kazakhs in Cardiff
Craig Bellamy’s tenure in the Wales dugout has started promisingly with three wins and three draws from six matches, culminating in a 4-1 Cardiff City Stadium over Iceland that sealed their promotion to League A of the Nations League.
Guests Kazakhstan snapped runs of seven games without a goal and six games without avoiding defeat with a 2-0 win over Curacao on Wednesday, but stepping back up to this level should see them revert to losing ways.
The Welsh are 7/5 to win on the (-2) handicap and that feels well within range given it’s clicked in the Kazakhs’ last three away games (0-3 vs Slovenia, 0-4 vs Austria and 0-5 vs Norway).
