International tips: Socceroos set for homecoming and tasty Euro clashes | OneFootball

The international break is upon us which means it is time to look ahead at what the odds are offering from across the globe.

Welcome Home Australia

Graham Arnold’s Socceroos make their long-awaited homecoming after their impressive World Cup run with a home friendly double against Ecuador.

Australia surprised many at home and abroad with their exploits in Qatar and were very unfortunate to be eliminated in the knockout stages by eventual winners Argentina after the men’s team’s best ever run in the competition.

Twenty of that squad are part of the group for these Welcome Home fixtures, while a quartet of exciting uncapped talents are included, the most notable of them being Manchester City’s Alexander Robertson, who has interest from Scotland, Peru and England (who he did represent at underage level) but now seems likely to declare for Australia.

If he does so long-term, it would make him the first ever third-generation international as his grandfather Alex Senior and father Mark also earned caps for the Socceroos, with Robertson in line for his first along with Jordan Bos, Aidan O’Neill and Joe Guaci.

A back injury to veteran midfielder Aaron Mooy, who has been in outstanding form for Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic this season, could open the door for him in one of the key things to watch out for from either of these games.

For the opener in Sydney, we can’t look past a home win and for the hosts to avenge the 4-3 loss in the only previous meeting between the sides in London in 2014, Australia throwing away a 3-0 half-time lead souring a night when Tim Cahill became the country’s record scorer.

They’re priced at 2.70 to avenge that this time around.

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Italy and England renew rivalry

One of the standout fixtures from the opening round of Euro 2024 qualifiers sees a repeat of the last edition’s final as defending champions Italy welcome England to Napoli.

Off-field issues aside, this game has been categorised as a major safety concern given recent events in the city for major fixtures, on the pitch it promises plenty of excitement.

The last Nations League campaign didn’t go well for England and their World Cup exploits were also disappointing, meaning Gareth Southgate needs to come out of the traps swinging – not that the pressure is any less for Roberto Mancini after the Azzurri missed out on another major international tournament last time out.

Italy are unbeaten in their last six home meetings with England, winning four of those. The visitors have scored just once in that span too and you need to go back to a 1961 friendly in Rome for their last victory in the peninsula.

Additionally, the hosts’ record in Euros qualifying is quite incredible. They’ve won their last 14 in succession dating back to September 2015 and haven’t lost in 40 games, last doing so against France in a World Cup final repeat in 2006, while you need to go back to 1999 for their most recent home defeat when they were beaten by Denmark.

All of that considered, we have to keep riding that wave of momentum and are picking Italy to win (2.75) and Italy draw no bet (1.83).

But one interesting subplot does concern England striker Harry Kane who will become the country’s all-time lone men’s top scorer if he finds the net as he is currently level with Wayne Rooney on 53.

He has never netted against Italy before in four previous meetings (the most he has faced a nation without doing so) but if you like him to make history here, he is priced at 2.6 to score anytime.

New eras for France and Netherlands

The above clash isn’t the only very interesting outing from the opening round of games as World Cup runners-up France host the new-look Netherlands on Friday.

Ronald Koeman is back in the Dutch hot seat and is already leaving his own mark on things early, sparking criticism for some of the call-ups, the lack of Jeremie Frimpong in his squad and surprise unprompted dig at Brian Brobbey, who is among the forwards.

As many as six new players could receive their first caps as a new era in Oranje begins.

On the other side of things, Didier Deschamps is also making his own stamp on a post-Qatar France. Stalwarts like Hugo Lloris and Raphaël Varane have hung up their boots and he has entrusted the armband to Kylian Mbappé – something which reportedly hasn’t gone down well in the camp of Antoine Griezmann, who is his vice-captain.

Looking at things on paper, Les Bleus have the stronger group and are much more of a well-oiled unit under Deschamps, in comparison to Koeman who may be ruffling feathers in the Dutch camp already.

We’re picking France to start with a win (1.83) but also taking Mbappé to kickstart his era as the undisputed leader by having the new captain to score anytime at 2.3 and first at 5.0.