England vs San Marino Predictions

• England scored 37 goals in eight games during their Euro 2020 qualification campaign.
• San Marino have lost 40 of their last 42 fixtures.
• San Marino conceded 51 goals in ten matches during their Euro 2020 qualification campaign.
• England have won 11 of their last 12 home games.

England going for goals

England are huge favourites to top the pile in a weak-looking World Cup qualification group, and Gareth Southgate’s talented team can start their campaign with a glut of goals against international minnows San Marino at Wembley Stadium this week.

The Three Lions hammered home an incredible 37 goals in eight games during their successful run in qualifying for Euro 2020, and the incredible array of attacking options available to Southgate look ready to do more damage on Thursday.

Seasoned international stalwarts Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane will be aiming to get off the mark against San Marino, while in-form Jesse Lingard and newcomers to the scene Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ollie Watkins will also be hoping to make an impact.

San Marino making up the numbers

San Marino hold one of international football’s worst records, and having lost 40 of their last 42 fixtures, they look like being Group I’s whipping boys.

La Serenissima have become synonymous with wide-margin batterings at this level, and in their last qualification campaign, for Euro 2020, they were on the end of 9-0 thrashings at the hands of Russia and Belgium, while a notoriously goal-shy Scotland team stuck six past them in Glasgow.

Stick to goals markets at Wembley

With match result markets understandably best avoided, bettors are advised to make their moves in the goals markets for Thursday’s game, and backing over 6.5 goals to be scored at Wembley is worth considering as a result.

England have ran roughshod over better teams than San Marino in recent outings in London, with their string of big wins there including victories against Czech Republic (5-0), Bulgaria (4-0), Kosovo (5-3) and Montenegro (7-0), and the Three Lions should be able to bite chunks out of San Marino in similarly ruthless fashion.

Alongside our over 6.5 goals forecast, an 8-0 correct score prediction is also favoured. The last time San Marino faced an opponent of this calibre away from home, they were torn asunder in a 9-0 drubbing by Belgium. A similar margin of victory should be within reach for England on Thursday, especially if they can break the deadlock early.