England vs Brazil Prediction: Watkins can lead Three Lions to victory

| March 22 |

3 mins read

England start their preparation for Euro 2024 in earnest on Saturday night (19:00), as Brazil roll into town for a Wembley Stadium fixture that is broadcast live on Channel 4. We've taken a look at the team news, latest match odds and given our England vs Brazil predictions.

England vs Brazil Betting Tips

England to win and both teams to score @ 11/4
Ollie Watkins first goalscorer @ 4/1

What better way to prepare for an upcoming major tournament than a home friendly against five-time World Cup winners Brazil? England haven't played Seleção since 2017, when they drew 0-0 at Wembley Stadium against Tite's squad.

The Three Lions have a dismal record against Brazil, winning just four of 26 games against the Little Canary in their history. However, Gareth Southgate's side come into this one as a well-fancied favourite, with Dorival Júnior's squad decimated through injury.

England are unbeaten at Wembley in 20 internationals, are undefeated since their loss to France at Qatar 2022 and look to have a superb squad full of entertaining talent. Meanwhile, Brazil have lost their last three fixtures against Uruguay, Colombia and Argentina and would happily take another goalless affair here, with so many of their more experienced players unavailable.

Team news

England are without a number of players through injury, including Jack Grealish, Kieran Trippier, Marc Guehi and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and Jordan Henderson all missed training on Wednesday, so we may see the likes of Ollie Watkins or Ivan Toney start here.

Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo has also been promoted from the U-21's squad for the first time and could join Anthony Gordon, Jarrad Branthwaite and Ezri Konsa in making their debuts over the upcoming friendlies.

Brazil are missing Neymar, Gabriel Martinelli, Casemiro, Alisson Becker, Ederson and Marquinhos due to injury, which has meant a guaranteed debut for at least one of back-up keepers Bento, Rafael and Leo Jardim.

Elsewhere, Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhães has also withdrawn from the squad and has been replaced by Juventus centre-back Bremer.

Match odds

The Three Lions are big 5/6 favourites to win this international friendly suggesting they have a 55% chance of victory, with Brazil surprisingly priced at 13/5, while the draw is backable at 5/2.

Goals look on the cards with over 2.5 at 5/6 and and both teams look likely to score at 8/11.

England to win and both teams to score @ 11/4

The offices and WhatsApp channels of England have buzzed all week long with the call-up of Kobbie Mainoo and the potential line-ups that Southgate could employ in Germany in the summer.

This is a genuinely exciting squad and the front six/seven is as good as anything in world football. However, I still have big concerns at the back, with Harry Maguire and John Stones looking the most likely centre-back pairing, despite neither playing much football in that position for their club recently.

England should win this one but I think the likes of Richarlison, Vini Jr, Raphinha etc can cause the hosts some trouble on Saturday night and we should see BTTS land for the selection.

Ollie Watkins first goalscorer @ 4/1

With Kane nursing an ankle injury picked up with Bayern Munich, Southgate is unlikely to risk his talismanic striker and that should pave the way for a start for Aston Villa's Watkins.

Playing in front of a potential three of Foden, Bellingham and Bowen/Saka, Watkins should get plenty of chances and when they fall to him recently, he is usually clinical.

The 28-year-old is having the season of his career, scoring 16 Premier League goals, as well as assisting 10 others.

Betfred are running their famed Double-Delight, Hat-Trick Heaven Promotion, meaning if Watkins does score first and then goes on to score a brace, you will be paid out at double the odds (8/1). If he goes on to bag a hat-trick, you would get triple the odds (12/1).