REVENGE is on England’s minds as they launch their Nations League campaign in Iceland.
The play-offs to qualify for Euro 2020 (now 2021) have been delayed and that’s confused the issue with Scotland for example playing Israel in two campaigns.
For England though it’s crystal clear as these games are a warm-up for the Euros where they could still face the Scots at Wembley.
International games are the last thing on many players’ minds with domestic fixtures still in cold storage but there’s no doubt England will be on a mission on Reykjavik.
It’s just four years since Roy Hodgson’s men crashed 2-1 to the Icemen at Euro 2016 in Nice. For me it wasn’t even a shock result.
But how times have changed and Gareth Southgate’s side are no bigger than 3-10 at Unibet to amend that shocker.
Since replacing Hodgson the new boss has guided England to the 2018 World Cup semis and finished third in the Europa League.
They won seven out of eight in qualifying for the Euros, scoring 37 and conceding just six.
England, whose group also features Belgium and Denmark, are the real deal now with young stars such as Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Mason Greenwood giving them threats in the final third.
And of course there are the goals provided by skipper Harry Kane who just about always turns up for his country.
Iceland are weakened by the absence of key men Aron Gunnarsson, Alfred Finnbogason, Ragnar Sigurdsson, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Johann Berg Gudmundsson and are as big as 14-1 at betfair to win with the draw 9-2 at McBookie.
I can’t see anything but a comprehensive away win and I like England at -1 at 4-5 with McBookie and -2 at 23-10 with betfair.
In England’s last three games they’ve battered Bulgaria 6-0, mauled Montenegro 7-0 and crushed Kosovo 4-0.
Another win too nil pays 5-6 at Betfred and I’m on Kane to strike first at 27-10 with Unibet.
The other Group A2 game sees Belgium travel to Denmark and this should be worth watching.
Belgium strolled through Scotland’s qualifying group with a 100 per cent record and are joint second favourites with England to lift the trophy.
They netted 40 goals in 10 games on the road to the Euro finals and at times looked unstoppable.
But the Danes also qualified autonatically and are on a 15-game unbeaten run so could test the world’s No.1-ranked team.
Belgium will tempt many at 4-5 with McBookie but it was 2-2 the last time they met in Copenhagen and I like the look of both to score at 3-4 at Betway.
Kevin de Bruyne enjoyed a stunning end to the season with Man City while hitman Romelu Lukaku helped Inter Milan to the Europa League Final.
De Bruyne is a guaranteed starter and is 8-1 with William Hill to strike first with Lukaku 18-5 favourite at Unibet.
Portugal won the inaugural tournament last year and should start with victory at home to a Croatia side missing several stars.
Luka Modric and Ivan Ratikic are among the men missing and with Cristiano Ronaldo involved you have to like the Portuguese at 17-20 with McBookie.
Ronaldo is 29-10 at bet365 to strike the opener against a side whose form has dipped since losing the World Cup Final two years ago.
Tournament favourites France line up in Sweden without the likes of Paul Pogba and Samuel Utiti.
Sweden are a decent side and like Denmark vs Belgium we could see goals here. Both to score pays 4-6 at McBookie.
France conceded to Moldova, Albania and Turkey in qualifying and both to score in Stockholm pays evens at betfair.
Gibraltar have won just four competitive games out of 46 since being awarded full FIFA membership but a rare success is on the cards today.
They face fellow minnows San Marino for the first time and are no bigger than 1-3 at boylesports to pick up the points.
That price is explained by San Marino’s record no wins in 164 competitive games in World Cup, Euro Championship and Nations League qualifying.
Gibraltar could cover the -1 handicap with their opponents conceding 31 in five Nations League games. That pays evens at Paddy Power and could be the first and last time I back the boys from The Rock to win by more than two.
Super Single
- Gibraltar -1 (2pm)
- (Evens, Paddy Power)
Euro Treble
- England -1 (5pm)
- Portugal (7.45pm)
- Denmark v Belgium btts (7.45pm)
- (24-5, Betfred)
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