Prediction and odds for the game: Hungary (15/2) vs England (2/5)

We are backing under 2.5 goals scored at odds of 7/10

When: Thursday, 2nd September 2021, kick-off 19:45

Where: The Puskas Arena

On Thursday night, Hungary host England at the Puskas Arena in Group I of European qualifying for World Cup 2022.

Hungary

The home side has made a promising start to their Group I campaign, as they have taken seven points from their first three qualifiers. They opened their qualifying campaign with a 3-3 draw against Poland before comfortable wins over minnows San Marino and Andorra.

The opening results mean that Hungary are undefeated in four World Cup qualifiers while having scored at least three goals in all three of their matches in Group I. In fact, Hungary have scored at least two goals in four of their last five World Cup qualifiers.

Hungary have a mixed recent home record in qualifying for the World Cup, although they have won three of their last five qualifiers on home soil. Their recent home qualifiers have certainly offered good value for money when it comes to goals, with over 2.5 goals scored in seven of their last ten games.

The home team do not have a great record against England, as they have lost 11 of their last 13 internationals with the Three Lions while picking up just two draws. Hungary’s last victory over the visitors was way back in the 1962 World Cup.

England

Fresh from their defeat in the Euro 2020 final by Italy, Gareth Southgate’s team go again and will be confident of bouncing straight back to winning ways in this clash. England head into this game on the back of a 13-game unbeaten in 90 minutes. The visitors have also kept clean sheets in seven of their last nine international outings.

When it comes to qualifying for the World Cup England tend to comfortably qualify from their groups. They are 23 matches undefeated in qualifying for the World Cup. Their last defeat in qualifying came way back in 2009 when they suffered a 1-0 defeat in Ukraine. In fact, the visitors have lost just two World Cup qualifiers in the last 20 years.

England are undefeated in their previous 11 away qualifiers, since the defeat in Ukraine. However, five of those undefeated matches have finished all square. Their recent away games in qualifying have been low-scoring, with under 2.5 goals scored in five of their last seven matches on their travels.

Conclusion

Hungary will be keen to continue that positive start to their qualifying campaign. However, England looks to be strong opposition. We believe that England will just edge this encounter, but it will not be easy for Gareth Southgate’s team. We think it will be a relatively tight game, so the other recommendation we make is to back the under 2.5 goals.

Our Picks: We are backing under 2.5 goals scored and/or the away win at odds of 2/5 (All odds are taken from Bet365)

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Can Hungary end England’s long undefeated run in World Cup qualifiers?