England are looking to stay perfect in 2024 UEFA European Championships Qualifying when they visit Malta for a match Friday at Ta' Qali's National Stadium. England have a three-point lead atop their Euro 2024 Qualifying group after a 2-1 victory against Italy and a 2-0 triumph against Ukraine. The Italians beat England on penalties in the Euro 2020 final after a 1-1 draw. England rank fifth in FIFA's world rankings and are eyeing their first major trophy since the 1966 World Cup. Malta are 172nd in the world and have never qualified for a major competition. They opened with a 2-1 loss to North Macedonia on March 23 and lost 2-0 to Italy three days later.
Kickoff is set for 2:45 p.m. ET. England are massive -6000 favorites (risk $6,000 to win $100) in Caesars Sportsbook's latest Malta vs. England odds. Malta are +6500 underdogs, a draw is priced at +1400, and the over/under for total match goals is 4.5. Before locking in any England vs. Malta picks or 2024 UEFA European Championships bets, you need to see the Euro 2024 Qualifying predictions from proven SportsLine soccer expert Martin Green.
After working in the sports betting industry for several years, Green became a professional sports writer and handicapper and has covered the game worldwide. Since last year's World Cup, Green has been profitable in multiple areas on his soccer picks, including the Champions League (+4.78 units), FA Cup (+3.07) and EFL Cup (+3.64) and Euro Qualifying (+1.28).
Now, Green has broken down the Malta vs. England matchup from every angle and just revealed his picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now see his picks. Here are the betting lines and trends for England vs. Malta:
- Malta vs. England spread: England -3.5 (+100)
- Malta vs. England over/under: 4.5 goals
- Malta vs. England money line: Malta +6500, England -6000, Draw +1400
- MAL: They have been outscored 10-7 in their seven matches since the start of 2022
- ENG: They have a 20-9 goal advantage in their nine games since the start of 2022
- Malta vs. England picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why you should back England
The Three Lions have won 19 of their past 20 Euro Qualifying matches, while Malta have lost 11 in a row. Malta scored two goals over those 11 matches, while England haven't been held without a goal in group play since 2010. The talent and depth of the England side should overwhelm the Maltese, and the hosts haven't scored in four previous competitive meetings. The Three Lions have a 12-0 goal advantage in winning all four, and Harry Kane scored twice in the last one, a 4-0 victory in 2017.
The attack featuring Kane, Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford can trouble even the world's best teams. Kane became England's all-time leading scorer in the victory against Italy and also scored against Ukraine for his 55th in 82 matches. He had 30 this season in the English Premier League, second only to Erling Haaland. Saka had 25 combined goals and assists, third-most in the league, and Rashford scored 17. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has 25 clean sheets in 51 international matches. See which team to pick here.
Why you should back Malta
The Maltese can only hope England are looking past them, as they don't have the quality or depth to compete with the powerhouses. However, they have lost by more than one goal just once in their past seven games. They dropped a 2-1 decision in the opener, getting a goal from Yannick Yankam. Then they held Italy without a goal for the final 60 minutes of that loss. Malta also are far more rested, as many England players have been involved in intense competitions.
Five key England players helped lead Manchester City to the Champions League title and could still be experiencing hangovers. Malta knocked off Luxembourg, a team that ranks 81 spots higher in FIFA's rankings, 1-0 in a friendly last Friday, on a goal from Kyrian Nwoko. Yankam and Nwoko are among 10 players on the roster 25 or younger. Seven players are from Maltese Premier League champions Hamrun Spartans, so they should have energy and cohesion. See which team to pick here.
How to make UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifying and Malta vs. England picks
Green has examined the Malta vs. England match from every angle, and he is leaning Over on the goal total. He also provides his two best bets, including a confident play on a goal-scorer, and has a full breakdown of the match. He's only sharing his picks and analysis at SportsLine.
What are the best bets for England vs. Malta in Friday's 2024 European Championships Qualifying match? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for Malta vs. England, all from the European soccer expert who has been profitable in multiple areas, and find out.
