As teams prepare to make their final preparations ahead of Euro 2024, we're treated to two huge games as England welcome Brazil and France host Germany - both previewed by our soccer expert who also shares betting tips.

 

300 USDT SPORTSBOOK WELCOME OFFER

 

England vs Brazil (Saturday 23rd March 19:00 UTC)

The home of football, Wembley Stadium, London will host this mouth-watering battle of the Atlantic. The bright lights will shine down on England this Saturday evening, as the Three Lions square off with Brazil in will be a great friendly bout. England manager Gareth Southgate will be ramping up preparations for this summer's Euro 2024 in Germany, while their South American visitors will be looking to undo a shaky run of form and get back to winning ways under new head coach Dorival Junior's first game in charge.

We're three years on from England's Wembley heartache in the Euro 2020 final, and the portents are looking good for this year's continental championship. Many believe the former player-turned-manager Southgate will have his final chance here to finally deliver another slice of international glory to the Three Lions faithful, as many believe the current squad provides an excellent opportunity to bring home the trophy.

It's been a rocky road for England in recent years, as they suffered World Cup quarter-final elimination at the hands of finalists France 2-1, as well as narrowly missing the loss of their top-tier status in the Nations League after finishing bottom of League A Group 3 with not a single win to their name. However, recent accolades abound in that the team have only dropped four points en route to a first-place Group C finish in their Euro 2024 qualifying section, in which promisingly they were also unbeaten. 

First Team to Score - England at 1.649

The nation enjoyed two victories over ailing Euro 2020 winners Italy, while a pair of draws with Ukraine and North Macedonia, can be seen as the only blemishes in what was an almost perfect campaign. The omens are looking good for progression into the knockout rounds as they have drawn Denmark, Slovenia and Serbia in Group C. The side has four friendly matches to play in the warmup to Euro 2024, with the first being against the Seleção Canarinha this weekend, Belgium next week, then in June Bosnia & Herzegovina and Iceland. The team are currently on a 10-match unbeaten run since the end of the World Cup - fans can dare to dream of tournament glory ahead.

In stark contrast to their future opponents, Brazil's post-Tite era has been a largely tumultuous one, as the five-time champions of the globe arrive at Wembley on a three-game losing run in qualification for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USA. A run of wayward form has made them regress in the 10-team CONMEBOL, only managing to garner seven points from nine against Bolivia, Peru and Venezuela, while falling short to Uruguay, Colombia and Argentina in their previous three fixtures under Fernando Diniz, culminated in their worst streak of form in almost 22 years. 

Handicap - Match Brazil +0.5 at 1.925

All is not lost, however, as Brazil is still on course for qualification to the World Cup, as they currently sit in the sixth and final automatic spot of the CONMEBOL table. Reigning world champions Argentina are miles ahead at the top of the table, enjoying an eight-point lead over their northern rivals. Two friendly matches beckon with England and Spain representing a great opportunity for Dorival Junior's men to regroup and test themselves against potent European opposition, ahead of the 2024 Copa America in June hosted by the USA. Fans will hope the team can hit the ground running ahead of meeting Colombia, Paraguay and either Costa Rica or Honduras awaiting them in Group D. Though they'll be further opportunity to iron out any dimples with pre-tournament friendlies against the United States and Mexico.

Brazil will have their work cut out for them in London, as several injuries hamper selection choices and a drab run of form means there are several question marks above the team. However, they can take solace in the fact that England has only ever prevailed over them in four out of 26 encounters across all matches. A stern test awaits the beleaguered South Americans as the Three Lions have never lost a home friendly under Southgate and with their current form of the squad, favour swings towards the hosts.

1x2 1.892 3.58 4.05

 

LATEST SOCCER ODDS

 

France vs Germany (Saturday 20:00 UTC)

Les Bleus welcome Die Mannschaft to the Groupama Stadium, Lyon on Saturday for an international friendly of mammoth proportions. France hosts the only team that bested them in 2023, where the Germans prevailed 2-1 with goals compliments of Bayern München's Thomas Müller and Leroy Sané sealing the deal. This weekend provides both sides with a great opportunity to beat their European rivals ahead of the forthcoming Euros.

Off the back of the World Cup 2022 tragedy and a lacklustre campaign in the Nations League, where they narrowly escaped relegation to the second tier by the skin of their teeth, France came through their Euro 2024 qualifying group with only one minuscule caveat to their name in the form of a 2-2 draw with Greece, though progression was already assured by then. Didier Deschamps's men produced seven wins from seven matches, impressively beating the Netherlands twice and also putting a remarkable 14 goals past Gibraltar away while keeping a clean sheet to enjoy the biggest win in their history.

Les Bleus will be reuniting with qualifying foes Netherlands and 2022-23 Nations League opponents Austria in Group D, alongside either Wales or Finland following their qualifying playoff match next week. March tests against Deutschland and Chile provide an opportunity for French squad members to impress the manager and lay claim to a starting position ahead of the Euros, where Les Bleus will bid to end a bleak 24-year run of not wearing the coveted continental laurels.

An alternative route to European glory could come via the Nations League for France, who have been modestly drawn with Israel, Belgium and Italy in League A Group 2, with the battle to commence this coming Autumn. Currently, the home side is on a run of five successive home-friendly wins ahead of the much-hyped visit from Germany. Though fans will lament that Atlético de Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann will be omitted from selection due to injury, though will breathe a sigh of relief that 23/24 Ligue 1 season's current top scorer Kylian Mbappé is confirmed fit to play. 

Total - Match Over 3.5 at 2.77

Germany has been amiss of any competitive action since exiting the World Cup on a sombre note for the second time in a row, engaging solely in friendly battles during a raucous 2023. Only in three of those 11 exhibition matches did Nationalelf come up trumps, though promisingly one of those accolades came during the aforementioned victory over France last September. In truly see-saw fashion and a puzzle for pundits they were undone just three days after in a humiliating 4-1 loss at home to Japan which saw the powers that be force Hansi Flick finally out of his leading role.

His replacement Julian Nagelsmann, opened his German account with a solid 3-1 victory over the USA, though this was followed by a lukewarm 2-2 draw with Mexico and losses on the trot to Turkey and Austria. The side's form couldn't be any different from the eight straight games they won straight after Euro 2020, though worryingly for fans Germany has only managed to achieve six victories from their subsequent 22 fixtures and the promise of a successful campaign to come has plenty of question marks above it. The nation has been drawn into Group A with Hungary and Switzerland, as well as Scotland who they will play against in the competition's opening game on the 14th of June. The side will be without veteran goal guardian Manuel Neuer for the match, as he is currently injured.

Handicap - Match Germany +1.5 at 1.34

France should have the upper hand in this match, with their impressive run of form in contrast to their wavering opponents. However, it won't be a cakewalk as even though the German side is in the mire currently, they can still provide a credible threat as the hosts will be all too aware of following their last encounter.

1x2 1.826 3.83 4.05

 

**Odds are subject to change. Odds accurate as of 10:00 UTC Friday 23rd March**

To view more expert sports content and previews, view all our latest articles here.