Malta vs England tips: Back a defender to score in goalfest

England head into this game against Malta looking to preserve their 100% record in Euro 2024 qualifying Group C.

1st half to produce most goals

Harry Maguire to score anytime

Total away goals, over 3.5

England have won all five previous meetings versus Malta.

Malta have scored just once in five games versus England (2-1 defeat in 2000).

England recorded 73% possession the last time the sides met in a 4-0 win in 2017.

Malta have lost both of their qualifying games so far (2-0 vs Italy, 2-1 vs North Macedonia).

England have lost three of their last 13 games in all competitions.

Neither Jude Bellingham or Lewis Dunk are in the squad due to injury, while Ivan Toney is banned. None of the players who were involved in European finals are expected to feature.

Declan Rice, Jack Grealish, John Stones, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips all joined up with the squad this week. Meanwhile, Conor Gallagher, Eberechi Eze, Callum Wilson and James Maddison will all be looking for rare game time.

Gareth Southgate's men get back into qualifying action at the National Stadium in Malta on Friday night and the team will have a different look about it.

It's unlikely any of Manchester City's men will play after celebrating their Champions League final win, while Declan Rice will also miss out and Jude Bellingham is injured.

Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka will probably lead the line, but a number of new faces are likely to be given chances to impress against the 172nd-ranked team in the world.

Eberechi Eze and James Maddison will be hoping for starts in midfield and both have the technical ability to cause Malta problems. Trent Alexander-Arnold may also get a run out and it might just be the perfect game to experiment with the Liverpool man in a more advanced role.

Kieran Trippier also looks set to start and he could be a huge influence with his ball-playing skills, but in truth any XI Southgate adopts should be strong enough to win at a canter.

England are as short as 1/50 and they are 1/3 to win to nil. This means there's nothing to be made by backing the Three Lions in that manner.

One interesting angle could be to back England to get the job done in the first half.

Italy, who had 69% possession, were 2-0 up inside 26 minutes away against Malta in March, despite an early scare. First-half goals from Mateo Retegui and Matteo Pessina had the Azzurri 2-0 up at the break and that is how the game ended, with Malta digging in as the Group C qualifier developed.

This could be the case again, with a number of England's players desperate to establish themselves under Southgate, so backing the first half as the highest scoring half at 11/5 is worth a punt.

Malta looked vulnerable to crosses in that game and keeper Henry Bonello was the hosts' man of the match. However, he could not stop the first from a corner, which was a free header, while the second originated from another cross, this time from the right.

With that in mind, it may be worth backing one of the defenders to get on the scoresheet. Harry Maguire started in the win over Ukraine and he will likely start once again and he's worth backing to get his head on a corner or a free-kick to take his England goal tally to eight.

Meanwhile, a bet on over 3.5 away goals looks a decent angle considering Malta's record against the better sides. It's true a much-changed Italy only scored twice, but Croatia and Slovakia hit seven and six against them respectively in late 2021 and they have stayed away from many of the big guns since.

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