England will take on Australia in an international friendly on Friday, looking to pick up a morale-boosting win at home ahead of their crucial Euro qualifiers against Italy next week.
England are in impressive form heading into the contest against Australia, and they have picked up five wins and a draw from their last six outings. The last time these two sides met, England picked up a 2-1 win at home in 2016, and they will be looking to pull off another victory here.
Meanwhile, Australia have failed to win four of their last five outings. So, Friday’s clash should be an uphill challenge for them. The Socceroos are certainly capable of pulling off an upset here. But they will have to play out of their skin in order to grind out an away victory here.
The last time Australia managed to beat England away from home was in 2003, and it remains to be seen whether they can replicate that performance here. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
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Team News & Tactics
England
Gareth Southgate has a number of injury problems to deal with. He will be without Bukayo Saka, Ben Chilwell, Luke Shaw, and Reece James due to injuries. And the Arsenal attacker has pulled out of the squad due to his issue.
It remains to be seen whether he is prepared to hand someone like Levi Colwill their England debut here. England are likely to shape up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Aaron Ramsdale taking his place in goal.
Kieran Trippier and Levi Colwill could be deployed as the full=backs. The two players will look to help out defensively and contribute going forward. Harry Maguire is expected to start at the heart of the defence alongside Fikayo Tomori.
In the midfield, Conor Gallagher could be deployed as the defensive midfielder, and he will look to help out the central defenders and add defensive work-rate in the middle of the park. Jude Bellingham will start as the box-to-box midfielder, and he will look to add goals and creativity to the side.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is likely to be deployed in the midfield as well, and he will help out defensively and look to create goalscoring opportunities from the deep. Harry Kane will lead the line for England, with James Maddison and Jarrod Bowen on either side of him.
Kane has been in fine form for Bayern Munich, and he will look to extend his goalscoring run here. Meanwhile, Bowen and Maddison are in impressive form for their respective clubs as well, and they will look to enhance their chances of playing in the European Championships next year with stellar performances here.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Ramsdale; Trippier, Maguire, Tomori, Colwill; Alexander-Arnold, Gallagher, Bellingham; Bowen, Kane, Maddison
Australia
The visitors do not have any notable injury concerns ahead of this game. They are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Mat Ryan in goal.
Ryan Strain and Aziz Behich will be deployed as the full-backs. They will look to protect the central defenders and help out during transitions. Harry Souttar will partner Cameron Burgess at the heart of the defence.
In the midfield pivot, Massimo Luongo will start alongside Keanu Baccus. The two players will look to protect the defence and break up the opposition’s attacks. Jackson Irvine will be deployed as the central attacking between here and he will look to link the midfield with the attack.
Martin Boyle and Awer Mabil will be deployed as the wingers. They will look to add pace and creativity from the flanks. Finally, Mitchell Duke is set to lead the line for Australia against England on Friday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ryan; Strain, Souttar, Burgess, Behich; Luongo, Baccus; Boyle, Irvine, Mabil; Duke
Key Stats
- Australia have failed to win any of their last three outings.
- England are unbeaten in their last six games.
- England have scored 19 goals in their last six outings.
- Australia have conceded at least once in each of their last five outings.
- England have kept four clean sheets in their last five matches at home.
Player to Watch
Jude Bellingham
The 20-year-old midfielder has been in phenomenal form since his move to Real Madrid, and he has picked up eight goals and two assists in his last ten appearances for club and country. Bellingham will look to continue his rich vein of form and look to help his teammates score goals. The midfielder will try and fashion out chances for himself as well.
Prediction
England 2-0 Australia
England are undoubtedly the favourites heading into this game, and they should be able to pick up a victory at home. Australia are no pushovers and they will look to make life difficult for the home side.
But the gulf in quality between the two teams is immense, and the visitors are likely to fall short in the end. A comfortable 2-0 win for the home side is on the cards here.
