Malta vs England betting boosts: Jack Grealish to cap off fine week, cards could come late
- Matty Briggs
- 15 June 2023
Planet Sport Bet has boosted four markets for Friday’s Euro 2024 qualifier with Malta at the Ta' Qali National Stadium. We break down the boosts and evaluate them.
Planet Sport Bet's boosted 8/11 'England to win against Malta and over 2.5 cards' looks set to land at the Ta' Qali National Stadium on Friday.
England to win and over 2.5 cards in the match 8/11 (was 8/13)
A hungover England would get past Malta on Friday and that may well be the case after Manchester City's Champions League celebrations.
Jack Grealish, John Stones, Kalvin Phillips, Phil Foden and Kyle Walker have all joined up with the England squad, but it's debatable whether any will feature after revelling in City's Treble win.
It should not really matter as Gareth Southgate has plenty of options and his record in qualifiers is impressive.
Only the Czech Republic have beaten Soutgate's England in 29 World Cup and Euro qualifiers. England have won 24, drawn four and lost just once.
It's an impressive showing from Southgate's sides, who as a general rule, do not lose to lower-ranked opposition.
That said Hungary managed to do the double over England in the Nations League last summer.
But taking away England's bogey team - and Hungary are certainly that after only drawing with them in a World Cup qualifier in 2021 - the Three Lions are consistent in rolling over the minnows.
Ranked 172 in the world, Malta fit into that category, so expect England (ranked five) to brush them aside and maintain their 100% qualifying record.
The second half of the bet looks a little bit more tricky and we certainly cannot rely on England to get us over the cards line.
Southgate's charges are far too clean living to rely on to get into trouble with the referee. Only the win over Italy would have delivered over the 2.5 cards line, with England receiving three bookings.
Harry Maguire is set to start, though, and with 11 bookings in 55 games for England and four in 16 games for Man Utd last season, he is the obvious man to register a yellow for England.
But England as a team have amassed just six yellow cards in the last 10 games, so in reality we will have to rely on Malta for bookings. And that could be a decent option with Malta picking up three or more yellow cards in five of their last seven matches.
Defender Jean Borg was sent off against Estonia and he will find it extremely tough against the likes of Marcus Rashford and Buyako Saka, while his frustration could boil over against the clever Harry Kane.
The two Muscats, Nicky and Zach, have collected cards in league action this season. Nicky has eight in 24, while defender Zach has three in 20.
Midfielder Yannick Yankam has five in 25, while Jake Grech has four in 26. Midfielder Yannick Yankum has five in 25 and he will likely start in the National Stadium.
Meanwhile, Londoner Jodi Jones - who plays for Notts County - will be hoping to make his mark against England and might just be one to put his foot in.
Fatigue could well become a factor for Malta with England primed to dominate possession. So don't worry if the cards do not come immediately, because England's keep ball may just frustrate Malta as their legs are tiring and the bookings could then come to get us over the 2.5 mark.
England to win, over 5.5 goals & over 8.5 corners 11/2 (was 9/2)
If you fancy England to hit the goal trail, and they did hit six against minnows Iran at the World Cup, then the 11/2 over 5.5 goals and over 8.5 corners looks a decent punt.
The pace of Rashford and Saka should cause Malta issues out wide and get England the corners they need.
England to score 3 or more 1st half goals & over 0.5 1st half corners 13/2 (was 11/2)
England are more than capable of coming out of the traps quickly against Malta. The Three Lions were 2-0 up against Senegal at half-time in Qatar, while they also had Ukraine sunk 2-0 before the break.
Malta are a significant downgrade on those two and Southgate's men could be home and hosed by half-time, just as they were against Iran in the winter (3-0 at half-time).
England to win, over 4.5 goals & Jack Grealish to score anytime 7/2 (was 11/4)
It would be a brave man to start Grealish on Friday night. But there's no doubt he could have a field day against Malta given the chance.
Southgate has options in attack, but don't rule out a late cameo from Grealish whose three-day bender after Man City's win in Istanbul has been the highlight of the season.
