England v Belgium Preview & Tips (2nd June)

England fans flock to Wembley this 2nd of June as their team plays Belgium for an international friendly. Game starts at 17:15 GMT.

Teams News

England

Three Lions supporters will be in full force this weekend to send off the England squad well on their way to Ukraine for the Euro 2012. This is after a slim 1-0 against Norway that saw Gareth Barry limp off with an injury that rules him out of the Euros this summer. Without Ruddy gone due to a broken finger during training, Barry’s injury adds a few concerns running in Hodgson’s head. And as a response to the seemingly unending challenges the new manager is already facing, Phil Jagielka and Jack Butland were called up to replace Barry and Ruddy respectively.

At Wembley this Saturday Hodgson will be trying to test his novel ‘plan’ once again. Fielding the likes of Young, Downing and Carroll together – despite the clamour of some critics – playing with speed, size, and youthful exuberance in a specifically unique manner (and remember, he also has Theo Walcott in the fold). It remains to be seen how Hodgson’s plan will fare come June but at least he has a plan and the personnel to play it well.

Belgium

A good part of Belgium’s starting XI looks like a Premier League selection – Simon Mignolet in goal, Thomas Vermaelen and Vincent Kompany in defense, and Marouane Fellaini in midfield. Kompany of course captained Manchester City to the 2012 EPL title, while Mignolet, Vermaelen and Fellaini all had wonderful seasons in their respective clubs. These four are looking bright for Belgium and in the coming years, and should be able to pose a problem to opposing sides.

Belgium was quite unfortunate to make it in Poland-Ukraine this summer, coming up short against Turkey by two points in their qualification group. But then again, this young squad still has a lot of time to play together; while Euro 2016 may look distant at the moment, they have the 2014 World Cup to qualify for.

England v Belgium Betting Preview

Talent-wise, England may have a bit of an edge in this game. Home advantage will also be key; English fans have been emotionally attached to their team as of late, and their presence alone will most certainly boost the Three Lions’ performance. England can’t afford to lose this game or else they drop a good sense of momentum on their end. Prior to their first Euro meeting against France in their opening match, good form could serve as the only differential; expect England to play this game against Belgium with winning in mind.

Betting Tip

Verdict: England to win, 2-0.

Tip: England is known to start games in a very nervous manner that they sometimes under-perform during the first half. For this you may want to wager on Draw-England at 3/1 in the half-time/full-time results. Belgium’s defense could also force this game under 2.5 goals at 19/20, with a 2-0 win at 6/1. A draw isn’t at all unlikely so if you cant pick a winner between the two squads, a 0-0 draw at 10/1 and a 1-1 draw at 13/2 are equally good punts.

All odds are from Bet365.com (£200 FREE BET!).