England vs Finland Prediction & Betting Tips (10 September)

Relegated from the elite following their last place in Group 3 of the last Nations League, England are logically the scarecrow in League B this year. Last Thursday, the British selection launched its campaign perfectly by winning with authority over neighboring Ireland 0-2. This bodes well for the future and the objective of returning to League A immediately. During Euro 2024, the Three Lions had a very good run despite questionable quality of play. Leaders of their group, they then had to work to dismiss Slovakia in the 8th 2-1 after extra time, Switzerland in the quarter 1-1, qualification following penalties and the Netherlands in the semi 2-1. England unfortunately lost to Spain in the final 1-2. Despite these honorable results, coach Gareth Southgate, in office since 2016, was replaced by Lee Carsley this summer.

Already present in Nations League B during the previous edition, Finland missed the climb by finishing in 2nd place in its group 3 points behind Bosnia-Herzegovina. Last Saturday, the Scandinavian selection showed its current shortcomings with a heavy setback suffered in Greece 3-0. During qualifying for Euro 2024, Teemo Pukki's teammates showed great spirits. With 18 points collected in 10 matches, they finished 3rd in the ranking, behind Denmark and Slovenia. Qualified for the play-offs, Finland unfortunately fell to Wales 4-1.

Gareth Southgate left the adventure after failing to win England. The interim coach is Irish and his name is Lee Carsley (50 years old, 40 years with Ireland), former coach of the English Espoirs. For his 1st list, we find Harry Kane (98 salt - 66 goals, Bayern) and Pickford (68 salt, Everton), but Phil Foden (41 salt - 4 goals), ill, was authorized to stay in Manchester. Other packages, those of the rather expected offensive replacements Palmer (Chelsea) and Watkins (Aston Villa). Behind, Maguire (63 salt - 7 goals, Man United) and John Stones (79 salt - 3 goals, Man City) are maintained. On the other hand, no C.Wilson (Newcastle) and J.Bellingham (Real Madrid), both injured, nor Trippier since the starting full-back has announced his international retirement. No Kyle Walker either, who has played very little with Man City since the start of the season, nor Luke Shax (Man United).

Return, however, of Jack Grealish (Man City), deprived of the last Euro. Also note the arrival in this English selection of the young Lille Angel Gomes. The Finnish squad for its part lacks youth. The best players are 30 years old or older. Among them, Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Hradecky (92 salt), Charlotte FC defender in MLS Uronen (67 salt), midfielder Robin Lod also in MLS for Minnesota United (68 salt - 6 goals), without forgetting the historic Pukki in front (122 salts - 42 goals) top scorer in the history of the selection, and only 13 caps behind the 137 selections of the best player in the history of Finland, Jari Litmanen (ex-Barcelona, Liverpool). Among the "young people", we find the new L1 resident in midfield Glen Kamara (Rennes, 59 salt, 28 years old), or the excellent striker Pohjanpalo (29 years old), recently returned from injury with Venice. Initially summoned, the promising Daniel Hakans (Lech Poznan, 4 goals in 8 caps) had to withdraw, while defenders Pyry Soiri (Athens Kallithea, 7 goals in 45 caps), Jensen (Velje, 14 caps) and Nikolai Alho ( Asteras) are absent, like midfielder Robert Taylor (MLS, Inter Miami, 2 goals in 34 seasons) who lacks physical condition, or long-term injured striker Marcus Forss (Boro, 2 goals in 21 seasons).