WCQ Preview: San Marino vs England – key Stats, H2H, line-ups, prediction

England manager Gareth Southgate
England manager Gareth Southgate | Photo Credit: IMAGO

England will look to continue their impressive run of form in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers when they take on San Marino next week.

Venue:

Key Statistics

San Marino have lost all nine World Cup qualifiers so far and they have conceded 36 goals in the process.

England have picked up a win in their last five meetings against San Marino and they have scored 29 goals in the process.

England are unbeaten in the World Cup qualifiers so far with seven wins and two draws from 9 outings.  The Three Lions have conceded just thrice in that time as well.

Head to head

The two sides have met five times in the past and England have managed to grind out a comfortable win each time.

Latest performances in all competitions

San Marino: LLLLLL

England: WWDWDW

San Marino

The home side are currently at the bottom of their group and they have failed to pick up a single win in nine World Cup qualifiers so far.

There is no doubt that San Marino are one of the worst international teams around and they will need a major slice of luck to get something out of this contest.

San Marino have struggled against England in the past and this will be another torrid evening for them. The home side are coming into this game on the back of 52 straight defeats in World Cup matches.

Possible San Marino starting line-up

Elia Benedettini, Manuel Battistini, Filippo Fabbri, Dante Rossi, Andrea Grandoni, Tomasso Zafferani, Enrico Golinucci, Lorenzo Lunadei, Luca Ceccaroli, Nicola Nanni, Adolfo Hirsch

England

The Three Lions are in impressive form right now and they are coming into this game on the back of a 5-0 win over Albania.

Gareth Southgate’s side will be confident of picking up a big win here given their recent history against San Marino and the way the hosts have been performing in the World Cup qualifiers so far.

England have scored a minimum of four goals in their last five meetings against San Marino and this should be another comprehensive victory for them.

Possible England starting line-up

Aaron Ramsdale, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Coady, Tyrone Mings, Ben Chilwell, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Emile Smith Rowe, Jack Grealish, Tammy Abraham, Bukayo Saka

Prediction

San Marino 0-5 England