Hungary v England predictions: Maguire to make the difference for Three Lions

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Hungary v England in 2022 World Cup qualifying on Thursday.

Where to watch

ITV 1, 7.45pm Thursday

Best bet

H Maguire to score at any time
1pt 9-1 bet365

Team news

Hungary
Right wing-backs Loic Nego and Gergo Lovrencsics are both out. Midfielder anchorman Adam Nagy is suspended.

England
Marcus Rashford, Phil Foden and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are out. Jadon Sancho is a doubt.

Preview

England's latest golden generation can put the once-mighty Magyars in their place at a hostile Puskas Arena in Budapest in a huge test for Gareth Southgate's men on the road to Qatar.

A couple of months after emerging as the second-best side in Europe, the Three Lions need to cement their place as the best side in qualifying Group I and Hungary away probably represents their sternest assignment.

The Hungarians, who famously taught England a lesson at Wembley back in the depths of time, have been in the doldrums for years, though showed they are beginning to emerge at the Euros where they were six minutes away from reaching the last 16.

But there's still a gulf between them and England who, despite a few flaws, ought to be far too sharp in attack. And while all eyes will be on Euro heroes Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane to deliver the knockout blows, look for Harry Maguire at 9-1 to find the net.

We are three games along the road to Qatar with England top of the section having won all three games, including a potentially awkward trip to Albania and a home assignment with Poland.

Hungary are pretty much on a par with the Poles – the two played out a 3-3 draw in March, the only match in which the Hungarians have dropped points, although their other matches were against lightweights San Marino and Andorra.

Marco Rossi's men are a five-at-the-back unit though missing their two recognised right wing-backs, plus Pisa anchorman Adam Nagy, surplus to requirements at Bristol City but nailed on for the number four role with the Magyars. He is suspended.

They can play without the ball – in their tricky Euros group against Portugal, France and Germany in the summer they averaged just 36 per cent possession – and they will soak up what England can throw at them and play on the counter.

Their results in those finals were mixed – they were outplayed but not embarrassed in a 3-0 loss to Portugal and the Germany side they drew with was evidently not that good – but they got Budapest rocking and the stadium will be a wall of noise, and hostility. A chorus of booing when England take the knee is a given and will help to create a toxic atmosphere.

England should be able to cope with that and should be able to deal with the limited thrusts that come from the hosts. The visitors are 4-9 shots for a reason.

Maguire to score looks a decent bet given his ability at set-plays. The Manchester United defender had eight efforts on goal during the Euros – only Kane and Sterling had more in England colours. And, of course, he found the net in the 4-0 romp past Ukraine.

Key stat

England are unbeaten in their last 13 matches featuring nine wins to nil.

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