Coming into this latest international break, England are one of nine sides who have already secured their spot at EURO 2024 next summer thanks to a straightforward unbeaten qualification campaign (W5, D1). With the pressure off for their two remaining qualifying matches (ECQ) matches against Malta and North Macedonia, we should expect to see some fresh faces in Gareth Southgate’s starting XI.
Three to keep an eye on are Rico Lewis, Cole Palmer and Ezri Konsa, all of whom were called up to the England senior squad for the first time this week to cover injuries in the squad. If Southgate is eager to bed these new faces in, then Wembley in a ECQ fixture should represent the ideal environment to do it, especially as The Three Lions have dispatched all who have visited here in ECQ matches since September 2011, with ten of their 13 wins in that time being accompanied by a clean sheet.
This is another daunting journey for Malta then who are also playing for nothing, but for a different reason. They’ve been Group C’s whipping boys, losing all seven of their ECQ fixtures which has already guaranteed their wait to reach a first-ever major tournament will be extended, and having conceded nine goals across their last three matches, damage limitation might be the plan from the outset here.
Malta did at least spring a surprise in their last contest at home to Ukraine, scoring just their second goal in their last six matches to open the scoring in an eventual 3-1 defeat. For a side that is ranked 171st in the world by FIFA, finding the back of the net at some stage might represent the best realistic target they can hope for here, yet that is something they have only managed once across six prior H2Hs.
Players to watch: The aforementioned Palmer will arrive in the England camp brimming with confidence after registering eight goal contributions (G4, A4) across his last eight Chelsea appearances. Paul Mbong opened the scoring for Malta against Ukraine, meaning he’s netted two goals and collected four yellow cards across his past eight games for club and country.
Hot stat: England have scored between the 50th and 59th minutes in three of their last five matches.
