England will continue their preparations for the 2022 World Cup when they face competition from Ivory Coast during Tuesday’s international friendly at Wembley, with kickoff at 9:45 pm.
Now only five goals away from becoming the greatest goalscorer his nation has ever seen, England captain Harry Kane moved one step closer to breaking Wayne Rooney’s record. His 49th strike in England colours propelled his side to victory over Switzerland.
The Tottenham Hotspur talisman moved level with England’s all-time top goalscorer Sir Bobby Charlton into second place in the national team’s all-time top goalscoring list. It is not out of the question that Kane will surpass the record set by Wayne Rooney before the World Cup rolls around in the winter.
Furthermore, England has now found the back of the net in their last 13 matches and are seeking a 10th consecutive win at home, although Ivory Coast’s performance in defeating France last week certainly commands respect.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta indicated on January 3 that a “different” Nicolas Pepe had returned to London Colney following the Africa Cup of Nations, and the Gunners winger justified such comments with a goal on his return to the club. However, Les Elephants could not hold on for a famous win against Didier Deschamps’s men.
England vs Ivory Coast Head to Head
Both sides are yet to face each other, and this marks their first encounter. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
- England 2-1 Switzerland
- San Marino 0-10 England
- England 5-0 Albania
- England 1-1 Hungary
- Andorra 0-5 England
Away
- France 2-1 Ivory Coast
- Ivory Coast 0-0 Egypt
- Ivory Coast 3-1 Algeria
- Sierra Leone 2-2 Ivory Coast
- Equatorial Guinea 0-1 England
England Team News
Manchester City fans will hope that John Stones is at full fitness before England face Ivory Coast this weekend. Southgate has also stated that Emile Smith Rowe could return to the squad after missing Saturday’s match.
Ivory Coast Team News
Meanwhile, Ivory Coast seemingly left the field against France with a clean bill of health, although Wilfried Singo, Hamed Traore and Christian Kouame all withdrew before the loss to Les Bleus. Beaumelle named a strong XI for the trip to the Stade de France and is unlikely to consider many alterations for Tuesday.
Prediction and Odds
The odd consolation goals should be where the joy ends for England, though, with their squad boasting several goal-scoring options.
- England Win
- Goals Over 2.5
- Both Teams to Score
