Harry Kane has scored has scored 59 times for England (Picture: The FA via Getty Images)
Win and they’re in. England can qualify for next summer’s European Championship finals by beating Italy at Wembley, leaving Gareth Southgate two Group C matches in hand to give valuable minutes to fringe players.
The Three Lions have already gained revenge for the heartache inflicted by the Azzurri in the Euro 2020 final a couple of years ago by winning 2-1 in Naples but it would be extra special to put a dent in Italy’s bid to go to Germany while guaranteeing their own place in the tournament.
England have won their last dozen European qualifiers on home soil and can extend that record against a team hit by injury and a betting scandal which saw Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo withdraw from the squad while investigations are carried out.
England failed to sparkle in Friday’s 1-0 victory over Australia but Southgate used the friendly to give experience to players who don’t usually get a look-in and key personnel will be recalled to face the Italians, who beat whipping boys Malta 4-0 on Saturday.
Just three points separate the two nations so it’s important for England to win as they want to head into December’s draw for the finals as group winners.
The only significant absence is Bukayo Saka and though he will be missed Southgate’s attacking options include Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden, with Ollie Watkins raring for more action after netting the winner against the Socceroos.
Kane is England’s captain, all-time leading scorer and talisman and is 7/2 with bet365 and William Hill to open the scoring after hitting nine goals for Bayern Munich following his £84million move from Tottenham. He also found the net in last month’s friendly with Scotland at Hampden Park.
Bellingham has also been prolific since moving to Real Madrid and has scored ten times in as many matches, while providing three assists, and he can also make the scoreboard tick over at 11/2 with Sky Bet.
Jude Bellingham can wreak havoc at Wembley (Picture: The FA via Getty Images)
Davide Frattesi, the 24-year-old Inter Milan midfielder, has scored four goals in his last three last three internationals and is big at 10/1 to find the net for the visitors at some stage while over 2.5 goals is 6/5 with William Hill, who go 8/1 the match finishes 2-1 in England’s favour.
• Quinton de Kock smashed a thrilling 109 off 106 balls to lead South Africa to a big win over Australia in the Cricket World Cup last week. The opening batter is 10/3 with Sky Bet to warm up for Saturday’s duel with England by scoring the most runs when South Africa face Netherlands in Dharamsala.
• Woking, Whitby, York and Ebbsfleet form tonight’s FA Cup yankee.
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