England vs Switzerland Predictions

• Discounting games against San Marino, Albania, and Andorra – under 2.5 goals has been a winning bet in 10 of England’s last 12 games.
• Under 2.5 goals has been a winning bet in five of Switzerland’s last eight.
• England have won eight of their last nine home games, with one draw.

Stubborn Swiss can frustrate England

England take on Switzerland in a friendly on Saturday as the two sides prepare for their respective World Cup 2022 campaigns later in the year.

The Three Lions breezed through their qualifying group, while the Swiss finished ahead of Italy to claim an automatic place in Qatar and condemn the Azzurri to having to navigate the play-offs.

England boss Gareth Southgate has three uncapped players in his squad for this game and next week’s friendly with Ivory Coast. Crystal Palace pair Marc Guehi and Tyrick Mitchell and Southampton’s Kyle Walker-Peters are all set for debuts over the next few week, while the likes of Ollie Watkins, Emile Smith Rowe, Ben White, Conor Gallagher, Jude Bellingham and James Ward-Prowse should also see some game time.

There are no uncapped players in Switzerland’s squad but their coach Murat Yakin is likely to give his younger players a bit of time on the pitch in England, with Augsburg’s Andi Zeqiri and RB Salzburg’s Noah Okafor hoping to impress in attack.

Goals could be in short supply

Friendly internationals are never particularly easy to call but one market that does leap out here is under 2.5 goals.

England have scored 15 goals in their last two games but those have been against minnows San Marino and Albania, and Switzerland are a far better side.

The Swiss are ranked 14th in the world by FIFA and when England do come up against better teams goals can be in short supply. Discounting games against San Marino, Albania, and Andorra – under 2.5 goals has been a winning bet in 10 of the hosts’ last 12 games across all competitions.

There have been under three goals scored in five of Switzerland’s last eight games and they have five clean sheets in their last six, so goals could well be at a premium even if both managers opt to tinker with their teams.

Three Lions can claim a narrow win

The Swiss may be clean sheet specialists, but Southgate’s men usually find a way to win at home and have eight wins in their last nine games on English soil, with one draw.

As such, I’m expecting England to come out on top but they may have to settle for a narrow margin of victory and a 1-0 win for the Three Lions appeals.