Totesport has chalked up England the 6/4 favourites in the match betting for an international friendly against Italy (9/5 draw 9/4 – 90 minutes) in Switzerland on Wednesday.
Roy Hodgson has seen his preparations for the Berne rematch against England’s Euro 2012 conquerors hit by a raft of late withdrawals, the latest being Arsenal winger Theo Walcott.
The Emirates Stadium flyer has a thigh injury and joins team-mate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Joe Hart and Daniel Sturridge on the sidelines.
At 23, Walcott was one of the older heads in a new-look and youthful England squad and confirmation of his withdrawal further blunts the Three Lions as an attacking proposition.
Hodgson’s pragmatic approach, underpinned by a more sobering level of expectations, won him some new friends in Poland and Ukraine, although his safety-first brand of football failed to inspire.
England did not lose a game in normal time this summer and scored in all three group games, but this does not paint the full picture.
The first genuine test came against the same opponents at the knockout stages and England spent the best part of 120 minutes chasing shadows.
That said, Italy too intend to experiment and coach Cesare Prandelli is without a host of marquee players.
There will be no fewer than eight uncapped players in his squad, in part due to the club commitments of his Juventus and Napoli contingent, but the likes of Daniele De Rossi and Alberto Aquilani are included. The maverick Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli will also miss out because of an eye infection.
Andy Carroll has a chance to prove he can be a mainstay No 9 in the Hodgson set-up and he is 7/1 joint favourite with Jermain Defoe in the first goalscorer market, although Ashley Young may appeal at 9/1 in the same market given that he has been given licence to roam.
The game is England’s only friendly before the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign starts in September.
England can be backed at 2/5 to emerge Group H winners and 20/1 to triumph in Brazil in two years’ time.
Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Birmingham City), John Ruddy (Norwich City).
Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Steven Caulker (Tottenham Hotspur), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur), Joleon Lescott (Manchester City).
Midfielders: Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Jake Livermore (Tottenham Hotspur), James Milner (Manchester City), Jack Rodwell (Manchester City), Ashley Young (Manchester United).
Forwards: Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur).
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