James Mason's best bets for England's Euro 2024 qualifier with Italy include a win for the Three Lions and first goalscorer.
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Best bets
England to win @ 13/20
Marcus Rashford to score the first goal @ 13/2
Harry Kane to assist one or more goals @ 4/1
Three Lions can get the victory they need
England have three opportunities to secure the three points they need to seal direct qualification to Euro 2024 and they can get the job done at the first time of asking by defeating Italy at Wembley.
Gareth Southgate’s side have done a lot of the heavy lifting by taking 13 points from five matches, starting with a well-deserved 2-1 success over Italy in Naples.
The Three Lions have the insurance of home fixtures against Malta and North Macedonia, but they will want the job done and dusted early and they have a great chance of defeating Italy, whose path to Germany 2024 could be less straightforward.
The Azzurri are in second place, equal on points with third-placed Ukraine, who have played one game more.
Italy’s fate is in their hands but they will probably need four points from the next two games (away to England and at home to North Macedonia) to seal the deal before taking on Ukraine in Leverkusen on matchday eight.
Azzurri head coach Luciano Spalletti would accept a point from the trip to Wembley but even that may be beyond his injury-hit side.
Spalletti’s options have been weakened by the withdrawals of Sandro Tonali, Nicolo Zaniolo, Federico Chiesa, Ivan Provodel and Mattia Zaccagni and his depleted team may struggle to cope with a confident England, who will be targeting a 13th straight home win in European Championship qualifiers.
Rashford ready to silence doubters
England were dealt a blow by Bukayo Saka’s withdrawal, but they should have sufficient firepower to complete a Group C double over the injury-hit Italians.
Phil Foden appears the man most likely to slot into Saka’s berth on the right-hand side but the main England goal threats are likely to come from Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford.
Kane has been England’s leading scorer in qualifying with five goals and is sure to attract plenty of attention from Italian defenders.
There could be space elsewhere, though, and Bellingham and Rashford are the players most likely to exploit it.
Bellingham has made a stunning start to life at Real Madrid, netting 10 goals in as many games, and his well-timed runs from deep will pose the Azzurri some problems.
While Bellingham and Kane have started the season strongly, Rashford has had a quiet time with Manchester United, scoring just once in 10 appearances.
However, the 25-year-old was one of England’s best performers at the 2022 World Cup and he looks a tempting 13/2 shot to break the deadlock.
Classy Kane can show his creative side
Kane is a regular assistor as well as a scorer of goals and his creative side could come out against Italy.
The 30-year-old has contributed four assists in the Bundesliga this season and laid on two goals during England’s Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.-
Kane loves to score goals but has the willingness and ability to create numerous chances for others and he might come up with at least one killer pass, as England strive to complete their passage to the finals.
