Midweek tips: England v Hungary, France v Austria

England failed to score from open play for the third successive game when drawing 0-0 with Italy on Saturday night but despite this, the bookies have chalked them up as a warm order in the betting to beat Hungary on Tuesday.

Banker

England are a top price 300/100 to see off the Magyars, and that looks short when you factor in that England are currently bottom in Group 3 and that Hungary travel to Molineux brimming with confidence after claiming a draw against a strong Germany outfit in Budapest on Saturday.

A win on Tuesday puts England right back in the Nation League mix of course but Saturday’s stalemate against the Azzurri means the knifes are out in some quarters for Gareth Southgate. Critics say that the Three Lions are stagnating under Southgate. Too safety first in their approach. No creativity. Not enough movement and a central midfield that struggle to control games.

It is a results business at the end of the day and Southgate will ultimately be judged on what England do in Qatar. However, they have just three games – including this one – to iron out their issues. Is it coming home from Qatar? That seems unlikely based on current form.

They are clearly too reliant on Harry Kane and that is a huge worry considering this is the best attacking squad of players England have had in years. Hungary are organised and looked comfortable for long spells as they beat a largely toothless England 1-0 in Budapest. They do not concede a lot of goals and have some real talent in midfield.

Both sets of players looked leggy and weary on Saturday night and in desperate need of a break. With this in mind, few are anticipating a classic when Hungary roll into town. With Southgate again unlikely to take major risks in terms of formation or personnel, ‘Under 2.5 Goals’ at a shade under evens at Molineux looks a cracking bet.

Banker: England v Hungary - Under 2.5 goals at 10/11 (General)

Value

France and Croatia meet in UEFA Nations League Group A1 on Monday and after an iffy start to their Nations League defence, it could be time to back Les Bleus to do a number on someone.

The performances of Didier Deschamps men so far have been very erratic, with Deschamps happy to make wholesale changes for these games and treat them as mere preparation for the real business of a World Cup campaign in November. Deschamps has used exactly 100 different players since taking charge in 2012, but there is a feeling they could be close to full strength on Monday.

After coming off the bench to salvage a point in Austria last time out, Kylian Mbappe should start as the French try to arrest a run of three games without a win. Like England, France have just two points from their opening three matches and are bottom of their group. They have the firepower to change all that though and the shout here could be taking the 10/1 currently available on France winning 3-0 the Stade de France.

Value: France to win 3-0 at 10/1 (bet365/Betfred/Hills/Skybet)

First Goal Flutter

Netherlands and Poland shared four goals on Saturday night as the home side maintained their three-point lead at the top of Group A4. The Dutch face Wales on Tuesday and will be hoping for an easier ride than they got in Cardiff recently.

Wales put in another mature performance and looked to have salvaged a draw against a much-changed Netherlands outfit last Wednesday when Rhys Norrington-Davies crashed home an equaliser in stoppage time.

However, Wales’ proud unbeaten run at home - which stretched back 19 matches – was ended in sensational style by Wout Weghorst’s diving header deep into injury-time.

Louis van Gaal has put together any exciting young side, and the Oranje look worthy favourites here. Indeed bookmakers have trimmed the Dutch to just 5/1 to win the tournament, after their impressive start (pre-tournament favourites France have been pushed out to 14/1 incidentally while England are 12s).

Van Gaal’s side should contain far more A-Listers than it did in Cardiff last week, and the mercurial Memphis Depay could be worth a go at 13/5 to open the scoring.

The Barcelona star has hit 26 goals for club and country this season, including two in Nations League action against Belgium, and his pace and poise could be too much for the Wales defence which can look vulnerable and ponderous at times.

First Goal Flutter: Depay to score first at 13/5 (Paddy Power)