Wembley hosts another chapter of the Battle of Britain as England and Wales face off for the 105th time on Thursday night. The Three Lions have owned this rivalry in recent years, winning the last seven meetings, including a 3-0 triumph at the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. But with Craig Bellamy’s young Wales side eager to prove a point, this friendly feels anything but friendly.
Thomas Tuchel’s England arrive in control and full of confidence after back-to-back wins over Andorra and Serbia in World Cup qualifying. They’ve scored seven goals without reply and look comfortable at the top of Group K. But injuries to key players like Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Harry Kane have opened the door for new names to step up — and Tuchel will be watching closely.
Wales, meanwhile, are still finding their feet under Bellamy. His team’s spirit and pressing energy have impressed, but results have dipped, with two defeats in their last three matches. The Dragons haven’t won away in a friendly since 2008, yet they’ll see Wembley as the perfect stage to end that drought and shake up history. England vs Wales: Key Stats
📊 Head-to-head: England 69 wins, Wales 14 wins, 21 draws
📊 England: Scored in 16 straight matches in all competitions
📊 England: Seven straight wins vs Wales, 14-1 aggregate score
📊 Wales: Winless in last 11 away friendlies (D1 L10)
📊 Wales: Failed to score in last 10 away friendlies (938 minutes)
Predicted Lineups
England (4-3-3) 🏴
Henderson; Spence, Konsa, Burn, Lewis-Skelly; Rice, Anderson, Rogers; Saka, Watkins, Rashford
Wales (4-2-3-1) 🐉
Darlow; Williams, Mepham, Rodon, Davies; Ampadu, J. James; Johnson, Wilson, Thomas; Moore
Players and Matchups to Watch
🔹 Ollie Watkins – Poised to lead the line if Kane is absent
🔹 Brennan Johnson – Wales’ direct outlet on the counter
🔹 Kieffer Moore – In form with goals in his last two matches
Odds Market on MSport
💵 Draw: 4.40
💵 Wales to win: 7.80
💵 Over 2.5 Goals: 1.72
💵 Watkins Anytime Goalscorer: 2.60
💵 Moore Anytime Goalscorer: 4.75
England look set to keep control, but Bellamy’s Wales won’t back down easily. Expect passion, pride, and plenty of fire under the Wembley lights.
