International football

Republic of Ireland's international friendly versus Qatar in Hungary has taken on added significance since their embarrassing loss to Luxembourg. There will be no World Cup qualifying points at stake here, but reputations are on the line following such a low point in Stephen Kenny's winless reign. More...

England could not have asked for an easier start to their World Cup qualifying campaign but things begin to get trickier on Sunday. The 5-0 victory against San Marino on Thursday was as one-sided as expected while Albania managed a 1-0 win against Andorra. More...

Israel and Scotland are familiar foes in recent times and Sunday’s World Cup qualifier is their sixth meeting in the last two and a half years. Last year’s three games in the Nations League and Euro 2020 qualifying were all tight affairs with just three goals scored. More...

Northern Ireland produced an encouraging performance against Italy on Thursday night but could be forgiven for easing off against the United States in Sunday’s friendly. The main focus for Ian Baraclough’s men will be their second World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria on Wednesday so the hosts are unlikely to be at full strength. More...

Wales will have one eye on Tuesday’s crucial World Cup qualifier against the Czech Republic when they host Mexico in an international friendly in Cardiff. Wednesday night’s 3-1 away defeat to Belgium was a disappointing start to their campaign, although it gave us three winning betting tips including an 11/1 correct score prediction! More...

Republic of Ireland must bounce back quickly from losing their opening World Cup 2022 qualifier when they host minnows Luxembourg on Saturday night. Wednesday’s 3-2 defeat in Serbia was an early blow to their qualification chances and they cannot afford to slip up in their first home match of the campaign. More...

England have been ruthless in qualifying for major tournaments under Gareth Southgate and should get their World Cup 2022 campaign off to a flying start. It is hard to view San Marino as anything other than cannon fodder and they have lost all six previous meetings by an aggregate score of 37-1. More...

Austria have been on an upward curve for some time now and look sure to provide Scotland with a tough test in their opening World Cup qualifier. Steve Clarke's side are unbeaten in their last six matches at Hampden Park, though, so this has all the makings of being a close encounter. More...

Italy have been rejuvenated by Roberto Mancini since failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup and are not expected to leave anything to chance this time around. Northern Ireland face a tough battle to advance from a tricky 2022 pool which also features Switzerland, Bulgaria and Lithuania. More...

Serbia are fancied to prove just too strong for Republic of Ireland when qualifying for the 2022 World Cup gets under way on Wednesday. Portugal are hot favourites to top the Group A table, so competition will be fierce for second spot and a place in the play-offs. More...

Belgium are obviously the team to beat in World Cup Group E and it will be a surprise if they don't see off Wales on home turf in the opening round of fixtures. However, the Dragons have been in good form themselves over the past 12 months, so the feeling is that this could be a good game to watch. More...

If good things come to those who wait then fans of international football are in for a treat this summer at Euro 2020. The tournament was postponed due to the continent being in lockdown last year but on June 11 it is finally set to kick off. In anticipation we have looked back at how each of the 24 Euro 2020 teams qualified for the tournament. More...

Iceland have faced some top teams in a very tough schedule of late and that could stand them in good stead for taking on Hungary in their Euro 2020 play-off final. Erik Hamren has named a vastly-experienced squad for the trip to Budapest and they may just have too much nouse for the Magyars. More...

Georgia and North Macedonia have drawn a couple of Nations League matches in recent months and another close encounter is on the cards in their Euro 2020 play-off final. Both are unbeaten in three other fixtures this year and everything suggests they are two evenly-matched outfits ahead of this Tbilisi tussle. More...

Ireland have stepped in to provide England with opposition for a friendly match in preparation for their Nations League games against Belgium and Iceland. New Zealand were originally due to be the opponents at Wembley but pulled out due to travel complications caused by the coronavirus pandemic. More...

Netherlands have been hit with some injury problems at the back for the latest international break and Spain are fancied to take advantage in Amsterdam. La Roja will be keen to bounce back from a surprise Nations League loss to Ukraine last time out and have several in-form front men at the moment. More...

Wales have been rocked by off-field issues involving absent head coach Ryan Giggs but still get the nod to edge out USA at Liberty Stadium in Swansea. The visitors are playing in their first match together since February and that will surely count against them in this international friendly. More...

Scotland have drawn the short straw in the Euro 2020 play-off finals by having to visit Serbia but travel in fine spirits following a fine run of results. Their hosts can call on a number of top-class individuals, but have been inconsistent in recent times and could be worth taking on at the odds on offer. More...

Northern Ireland and Slovakia both needed penalties to reach the Euro 2020 play-off finals and another tight tussle is expected in Belfast. The visitors are rated a superior side on paper, but past evidence shows they do not travel well and that should ensure a cagey contest at Windsor Park. More...

England have won their last five encounters with Wales and will be keen to extend that sequence in Thursday's friendly clash at Wembley. The Three Lions put in a couple of lacklustre Nations League displays last month and have been rocked by off-field issues featuring several players. More...

Slovakia and Republic of Ireland have a history of tight tussles and Thursday's Euro 2020 qualifying play-off promises to be another close encounter. These evenly-matched teams have played out four consecutive draws since the men in green shaded their first meeting 1-0 back in 2007. More...

Northern Ireland face a tough task when travelling to Sarajevo to face Bosnia and Herzegovina in a Euro 2020 qualifying play-off. The visitors are 12 places higher in the FIFA rankings, but their hosts have a far more talented team on paper and beat them twice in the Nations League two years ago. More...

Portugal and Spain warm up for the next round of Nations League matches with a high-profile Lisbon friendly and we're backing the hosts to prevail. The Navigators have assembled a strong, settled squad which looks well equipped to take on any team on the planet right now. More...

We've taken a fresh look at the Euro 2020 winner odds following the news that UEFA has postponed the finals by a full year due to the coronavirus outbreak. The tournament will now take place from June 11 to July 11 in 2021, staged in 12 different cities across Europe, with the semi-finals and final to be at Wembley. More...

Wales can secure automatic qualification for Euro 2020 if beating Hungary in Cardiff and are fancied to achieve that feat. The Dragons lost 1-0 to the same opponents in Budapest five months ago, but they have been strong on home turf, while the Magyars do not tend to travel well. More...

Scotland have a score to settle with Kazakhstan as they look to end their Euro 2020 Group I campaign on a high note at Hampden Park. The Scots started out with a 3-0 loss to the same team back in March, but have since had a change of leadership and look in better shape for the reverse fixture. More...

Germany have already qualified from Euro 2020 Group C but will still be keen to wrap up top spot when entertaining Northern Ireland in Frankfurt. Die Mannschaft have claimed eight straight wins over the men in green, who are resigned to finishing third in this pool and entering the play-offs. More...

Denmark only need a draw in Dublin to qualify from Euro 2020 Group D and recent history suggests they can hold the Republic of Ireland. These teams have met five times over the past couple of years and four of those games have ended in stalemate, with the Danes winning the other. More...

England have qualified from Euro 2020 Group A in impressive fashion, but they were given a scare by Kosovo when these teams met in Southampton. Gareth Southgate's side ultimately prevailed 5-3, but not before their opponents had created a favourable impression with some enterprising play. More...

Argentina lost out to Brazil in this year's Copa America semis but have won two of their last four Superclasico de las Americas meetings. La Albiceleste head into the latest renewal of this fixture in good shape and could prove a value bet to come out on top again in Saudi Arabia on Friday evening. More...