San Marino v England predictions: Three Lions can secure finals spot with ease

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for San Marino v England in 2022 World Cup qualifying Group I on Monday.

Where to watch

ITV, 7.45pm Monday

Best bets

England to win 4-0
1pt 7-1 Betfair, Betfred

England to win 5-0
1pt 11-2 general

Team news

San Marino
Regular captain Davide Simoncini has been left out and forward David Tomassini is out after coming off injured in the first half against Hungary.

England
Midfielder Conor Gallagher, on loan at Crystal Palace from Chelsea, has been called up as Jack Grealish, Raheem Sterling, Luke Shaw, Jordan Henderson and Mason Mount have been released from the squad. Aaron Ramsdale and Tammy Abraham are pushing for starts.

Match preview

England famously failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup despite winning 7-1 away to San Marino but the Three Lions face a simpler task against the minnows to seal their place at next year's finals in Qatar.

One point would seal top spot in Group I for Gareth Southgate's side, ensuring automatic qualification for the 2022 World Cup, where they are 8-1 to lift the trophy.

While publicly Southgate will be taking nothing for granted, the England or draw double chance is priced up at 1-500 and even the withdrawal of five senior players is unlikely to derail the visitors.

Jack Grealish, Raheem Sterling, Luke Shaw, Jordan Henderson and Mason Mount, all of whom featured in the Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy, have not travelled to San Marino but England should ease to victory nonetheless and splitting stakes between a 4-0 and 5-0 away win looks a decent punting strategy.

England have dropped points in two of their six qualifying games since the European Championships, conceding a late equaliser in Poland and being held to another 1-1 draw by Hungary at Wembley.

However, they remain capable of devastating spells of attacking football, as they showed when scoring four unanswered second-half goals in Hungary in September and racing into a 5-0 half-time lead against Albania on Friday.

That was particularly impressive given that Albania's previous four qualifying results have been 1-0 wins over Hungary at home and away, a 5-0 thrashing of San Marino, and a 1-0 defeat to Poland, England's closest challengers in the group.

Harry Kane scored a hat-trick on Friday and will be eager to add to his international goals tally in the final qualifier. He is unlikely to play the full 90 minutes, however, as Southgate is keen to remain on good terms with Premier League clubs as he prepares for the unique challenge of a winter World Cup next year.

Midfielder Conor Gallagher, who has starred on loan at Crystal Palace from Chelsea this season, is the only addition to the squad who faced Albania so Emile Smith Rowe, Jude Bellingham and Tammy Abraham will be hoping for starts.

San Marino lost 5-0 away to England in March, when goalkeeper Elia Benedettini had a stormer and he also kept the scoreline respectable in Friday's 4-0 defeat in Hungary.

Their four home qualifying fixtures in this campaign have yielded a 2-0 loss to Albania, 3-0 defeats to Hungary and Andorra, and a 7-1 rout by Poland, and England do not need to chase a cricket score in order to seal their place in the finals.

Key stat

England's last five international wins in 90 minutes have all been by a 4-0 or 5-0 scoreline.

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