With eight games of the Premier League already behind us, the October international break descends upon football as nations around the continent gear up for next year’s European Championships in Germany.
Grosvenor Sport ambassadors Jamie O’Hara and Jose Enrique are on hand to dissect two of the key fixtures, namely Scotland’s mouthwatering clash with Spain and England’s friendly match with Australia.
Watch the full episode of The Counter Attack with Jamie O’Hara and Jose Enrique below.
Spain v Scotland – Thursday 19:45
Jamie O’Hara:
I feel like Spain are missing a focal point up front. They have a lot of good players but there always seems to be a lack of a clinical goalscorer once they get into attacking areas. They’re a nice side to watch but I don’t think they’ll win the Euros next year.
Scotland have been brilliant in this group and they deserve to be top going into this game. This is probably the best Scotland side I’ve seen in my lifetime. Scott McTominay has been in unbelievable form for both Manchester United and his country – he scored two goals on the weekend and deserves more credit of how good a player he is.
I’m going 2-1 Spain for this. Scotland will make it a difficult game, but they won’t have enough to get a result.
Score prediction: Spain 2-1 Scotland 17/2
Anytime goalscorer: Scott McTominay 13/2
Jose Enrique:
I think Spain have a good side, but are they going to be candidates to win the Euros next year? I don’t think so. They’ve got a lot of good, young players, but they’re not like the old Spain we used to have with all those world class players in every position. I don’t see Spain as one of the favourites to win the competition.
Scotland have a great team, and I actually think they can beat Spain. It’s probably a 50/50 game, and I think they’re going to make it very tough for Spain. I hope I’m wrong, but I actually believe they’re going to beat them here – I’m going with 2-1 to Scotland.
Score prediction: Spain 1-2 Scotland 30/1
Anytime goalscorer: Joselu 5/4
“They have a great team – they’re actually 50/50 in this game… I think they can beat Spain”@Jesanchez3 is backing Scotland all the way against his Spain tonight.
Check out the full episode below.#ESPSCO
— GrosvenorSport (@GrosvenorSport) October 12, 2023
England v Australia – Friday 19:45
Jose Enrique:
This is a good time for England to potentially try some new players who don’t usually have as much game time with the national team, so Gareth Southgate can have a look at players who aren’t normally in his starting XI. It’s a big opportunity for the manager here to see some new faces playing for England.
You know when you put on the England shirt that it’s a big nation, so let’s see how some of the players manage that.
For me, I love Levi Colwill of Chelsea. For me, he’s the best centre-back in terms of quality for England, and I think him and John Stones should be the starting centre-backs for them in the Euros next summer. Despite that, it will be one of the biggest surprises in the world if Harry Maguire doesn’t start!
That will be nice to see. In terms of the result, England are going to win here.
Score prediction: England 3-0 Australia 23/4
Anytime goalscorer: Phil Foden 33/20
Jamie O’Hara:
This is a game England will probably win, so I’d like to see a few more players feature that don’t usually get gametime. I’d like to see Lewis Dunk again, I think he deserves to start, and maybe Gareth Southgate can try something different in midfield as well.
In terms of the defenders, I think Southgate will go with John Stones and Harry Maguire at the back for the Euros next summer, which is ridiculous. I thought Marc Guehi was brilliant when he played against Scotland – someone like him would be refreshing to see against Australia.
You need pace in these major tournaments – Maguire and Stones don’t have that! Maguire just slows the game down – he takes too many touches, and we need to be playing with urgency if we’re going to win the Euros. Southgate will start Maguire as he always does, which probably sums up Southgate if we’re being honest and is probably the reason we won’t win next summer.
Score prediction: England 4-0 Australia 9/1
Anytime goalscorer: James Maddison 33/20
Watch the full conversation around the International Break here (INSERT FULL VIDEO LINK)
International Break Predictions:
Spain v Scotland
Jose Enrique: Scotland 12/1
Jamie O’Hara: Spain 1/4
England v Australia
Jose Enrique: England 2/11
Jamie O’Hara: England 2/11
Ireland v Greece
Jose Enrique: Draw 21/20
Jamie O’Hara: Draw 21/20
Northern Ireland v San Marino
Jose Enrique: Northern Ireland 1/50
Jamie O’Hara: Northern Ireland 1/50
Wales v Croatia
Jose Enrique: Croatia 19/20
Jamie O’Hara: Croatia 19/20
Norway v Spain
Jose Enrique: Spain 41/50
Jamie O’Hara: Spain 41/50
Gibraltar v Ireland
Jose Enrique: Ireland 1/20
Jamie O’Hara: Ireland 1/20
England v Italy
Jose Enrique: England 7/10
Jamie O’Hara: England 7/10
France v Scotland
Jose Enrique: France
Jamie O’Hara: France
Northern Ireland v Slovenia
Jose Enrique: Northern Ireland 21/10
Jamie O’Hara: Draw