England vs San Marino Preview

October 7, 2014
By: Deke Hardman

Thursday evening’s match at Wembley Stadium sees England face San Marino in the second round of Euro 2016 qualifiers.

They go in to the game having beaten Switzerland in what was arguably their toughest task last time out, with the 2-0 triumph in Basel sending them to the top of Group E.

Arsenal’s Danny Welbeck got both goals at St Jakob-Park, and he is once again set to lead the line in the absence of Daniel Sturridge, who is yet to return from the injury he sustained in training with Roy Hodgson’s men last month.

Everton’s John Stones has withdrawn from the squad after sustaining ankle damage in his sides 2-1 defeat to Manchester United on Sunday, and has been replaced with Calum Chambers, who will battle with Southampton’s Nathaniel Clyne for the right back slot.

Aston Villa’s Fabian Delph should be fit in time to retain his place in midfield while captain Wayne Rooney, who is currently suspended at club level, will be aiming to get closer to Bobby Charlton’s record total of 49 goals – a tally he is currently eight shy of.

The Manchester United skipper is favourite to open the scoring at 3.5 (5/2) with Bet 365, with his former teammate Welbeck at 4.0 (3/1) chance with the same firm.

Unsurprisingly, the home win is widely available at 1.01 (100/1) with the visitors 101.0 (100/1) with a number of bookmakers. The draw can be backed at 41.0 (40/1).

The minnows, whose only ever victory came in a friendly against Liechtenstein over a decade ago, lost to Luxembourg last month in their group opener, and their line-up is likely to be unchanged from that defeat.

38 year old La Fiorita forward Andy Selva, who is the top scorer in the squad with eight goals in sixty-six appearances, is priced at 51.0 (50/1) with Bet 365 to get the first goal of the game.

In the four previous meetings between the sides, England have scored a combined total of twenty-six goals and they can be backed at 1/1 (2.0) with Bet 365 to get at least seven this time around.

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