ENGLAND begin their preparations for Euro 2020 with a warm-up fixture against Austria at the Riverside Stadium on Wednesday night.
As always, the nation's expectations are high and rightly so given the vast array of attacking talent at their disposal.
Gareth Southgate's young side have been installed as joint-favourites to win this Summer's showpiece alongside world champions France.
The Three Lions will take on Austria in the first of their two friendlies before their bid to end 55 years of hurt gets underway against Croatia on the 13th of June.
Austria, meanwhile, are getting set to enter the European Championships for the third time in their history, but they have never managed to pick up a win in each of their previous three tournament appearances.
However, Franco Foda's side have lost just two of their last 10 international fixtures and they will be keen to keep the feelgood factor flowing ahead of their Euro 2020 opener with North Macedonia next weekend.
Outright Betting
England have won 13 of their last 14 home matches and the hosts are heavily fancied here at 4/9 with UniBet.
Austria have avoided defeat in each of their last four away matches but the bookies odds suggest that trend is set to come to an end with an away win priced up at 15/2 with William Hill, while the draw also deemed unlikely at 17/5 with UniBet.
Betting Angles
England look a bit skinny to side with at the above-mentioned price on a night where they will be without the Chelsea, Man City and Man United contingent of their squad.
Having said that, backing the hosts to overcome a -1 start on the asian handicap looks like a nice way in at 4/5 with SportNation
Here we would only lose if the Three Lions fail to win the game and that makes plenty of appeal on night night where I reckon even an under-strength England side will still have too much firepower for Austria.
There is a lot of competition for places all over the pitch and a number of Southgate's young Lions will be eager to stake a claim for a starting berth against Croatia at Wembley on Sunday week.
England's depth in attack is extraordinary and it's also worth remembering that they racked up a remarkable 37 strikes across their eight Euro 2020 qualifiers
What's more, history shows that this is the type of assignment that the hosts are particularly efficient in dealing with and that only adds to the appeal of backing the home team to overcome a -1 start on the asian handicap.
I'll also dip into the anytime goalscorer market and back England striker Harry Kane to get on the scoresheet here, a 5/6 play with SportNation.
Austria have conceded at least one goal in each of their last five matches and the in-form England skipper looks like a prime candidate to put Franco Foda's side to the sword on Wednesday night.
This International Friendly match between England and Austria will be played on Jun 2, 2021 and kick off at 20:00. Check below for our tipsters best England vs Austria prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
