Everyone enjoys the international break, right?… Right!?…
OK, maybe not. However, several UEFA Nations League games, starting with England v Greece on Thursday evening, will temporarily reduce the desire for club football.
Lee Carsley made the best possible start as the Three Lions’ temporary boss in September, enjoying 2-0 wins against Ireland and Finland.
Can he continue that run here and cement his place as the favourite to replace Gareth Southgate full-time?
Top Twitter (that’s X for the Elon fanboys out there) tipsters @FootyAccums are back again, looking to add a few bob to your PP account. Let’s get into their Nations League betting tips.
England v Greece Tips
Under 2.5 goals
England 2-0 Greece
WHEN: 19:45, Thursday 10th October
WHERE: Wembley Stadium, London
TV: ITV1
With both teams enjoying a solid start to their Nations League campaign and only goal difference separating the sides in Group B, this is expected to be a tightly contested match-up.
Interim manager Lee Carsley has made the perfect start following Gareth Southgate’s exit as England’s manager. Wins against the Republic of Ireland and Finland in his first two games, Carsley now turns his attention to an impressive Greece side in a rich vein of form.
England has kept two consecutive clean sheets in the UEFA Nations League thus far under Lee Carsley. The Three Lions have been in impressive form in recent competitive matches – having only lost once in their last nine competitive fixtures – the previous defeat was the Euro 2024 final against Spain. England are also unbeaten in their last four designated home fixtures, with three wins in their previous four.
Greece is the next challenge for Carsley, who have also taken six points from Finland and Ireland in the first round of games in the Nations League, beating them 3-0 and 2-0. Ivan Jovanovic was only appointed as Greece’s manager in June; however, his side has bought into his strong defensive philosophy ahead of their trip to Wembley.
Due to their improved playstyle, the Greek side, like their English counterparts, boast a perfect record of not conceding in the first round of matches. Jovanovic’s men currently sit top of Group B on goal difference. They head to Wembley with an impressive defensive record, only conceding to top sides such as France, Germany, and the Netherlands since June 2023.
However, a trip to London will be as tough as they come for Greece. Eight of the last ten games involving England have seen less than 2.5 goals scored in their respective fixtures. England have won seven of the previous nine meetings against Greece, with the Three Lions losing only once in their last three fixtures. England have also kept two clean sheets in their previous three at Wembley.
England Team News
Interim head coach Lee Carsley has called up Tottenham Hotspur striker Dominic Solanke, who will make his return to the Three Lions squad after making his debut against Brazil in 2017. Jude Bellingham and Kyle Walker also return to the squad after both missed out in September. However, there are no places in the squad for Tino Livramento, Harry Maguire, Jarrod Bowen, and Eberechi Eze. Kobbie Mainoo has withdrawn due to injury.
Greece Team News
Greece named an unchanged squad, with Hammers defender Konstantinos Mavropanos playing a key part in Greece’s impressive form, being instrumental in defence and forming a formidable partnership with Konstantinos Koulierakis from VfL Wolfsburg.
Form Guide
England
England have only lost once in the last five games and won four; this started with a tightly contested quarter-final in the Euros against Switzerland. The game was goalless until the 75th minute when Breel Embolo scored for the Swiss to take the lead. However, Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka would manage to equalise five minutes later, which would see the sides play extra time and then penalties. England would then advance to the semi-final with Akanji’s saved effort, the only penalty missed.
The Netherlands would be the next task in the Semi Final for England, The Netherlands took an early lead through a Xavi Simons thunder strike that flew past Pickford. 18 minutes in, Harry Kane was caught at the end of a challenge in the box by Denzel Dumfries, in which Kane would convert the penalty. The two sides were at a stalemate with extra time looming until a 90th-minute winner through Ollie Watkins would see England reach the Euro 2024 Final in spectacular fashion.
Spain would be the last task for England at the Euros. Nico Williams would grab the first goal shortly after half-time. Until the 73rd minute, England struggled to get an equaliser until substitute Cole Palmer managed to grab a goal with 17 minutes left. However, heartbreak for England would follow with Mikel Oyarzabal’s 86th-minute winner that would crown Spain the European Champions.
As previously mentioned, the following two games for England were the Republic of Ireland and Finland in the Nations League, where The Three Lions picked up two wins and were 2-0 winners in both games.
Greece
Most recently, Greece faced the Republic of Ireland and Finland in the Nations League. Like The Three Lions, the Greek side were winners and kept clean sheets in both matches to go top of Group B on goal difference.
Before their last two games, Greece travelled to Malta, where they were 2-0 winners. Greece’s goals came just after 15 minutes, and a penalty was awarded after seven minutes. Captain Anastasios Bakasetas converted the penalty for Greece before Christos Tzolis put the blue and white two goals ahead.
Greece also played Germany in a friendly prior to Euro 2024, which they narrowly missed out on after losing to Georgia 4-2 on penalties a game prior. In their game against the Euro 2024 hosts, Germany, they took the lead after 33 minutes. However, the German side proved too much for the Greeks, as goals from Kai Havertz and Pascal Groß in the second half gave die Mannschaft a boost before the Euros.
England v Greece betting tips
England will be looking to continue their perfect start to their Nations League campaign as they host Greece in a top-of-the-table clash. Both teams are on six points. England are coming off two wins against the Republic of Ireland and Finland, where they were 2-0 winners in both games.
Greece are also looking to maintain their 100% record, coming off a 2-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland and a 3-0 win over Finland. Greece will pose a tough task for England, with Ivan Jovanovic’s men currently sitting top of Group B on goal difference. Greece boast an incredible defensive record, with only France, Germany, and the Netherlands scoring against them since June 19th, 2023.
With England having won seven of the last nine meetings against Greece, The Three Lions possess a strong record at Wembley, having only lost once in their previous three. England have also kept two clean sheets in their previous three at Wembley, with eight of the last ten seeing less than 2.5 goals scored in their respective fixtures. –
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England v Greece Tips
Under 2.5 goals
England 2-0 Greece
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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