4 RABs for this Weekend’s Nations League Action - 3/6/22

With one more international goal Harry Kane overtakes Sir Bobby Charlton as England’s second-highest goal scorer, and with his sights firmly set on Wayne Rooney’s record, the Tottenham striker will certainly be looking at this behind-closed-doors fixture to increase his tally.

England haven’t lost to Hungary since 1962, and without a player like Ferenc Puskas at their disposal this time, that is unlikely to change bar any major mishaps from the otherwise in-form England squad.

The fixture has seen Over 2.5 goals in 3 of the last 4 matches, and as previously stated, Kane will be eager to increase his goal tally in pursuit of Wayne Rooney’s record.

With UEFA assuring the fixture is played in front of just 30,000 school children, it is unlikely to be a heated affair between the two teams, and with both sides coming off the back of an action-packed domestic season, it is unlikely to be a tense event.

Kylian Mbappe and Romelu Lukaku are hot property on the international stage and coming off the back of an injury-hit season, Memphis Depay will undoubtedly be keen to prove he is still the dutch superstar he was once regarded as.

PSG striker Mbappe has scored 26 goals in 54 international matches for France and comes into this match off the back of a superb goalscoring campaign at club level that saw him fire in 39 goals and create 26 assists in 46 matches. Mbappe will expect himself to bag against Denmark tonight.

Meanwhile, Depay has an impressive 39 goals in 77 caps for the Netherlands, and with just one goal behind equalling Patrick Kluivert as the third top scorer, two behind Klaas Jan Huntelaar in second and only 11 behind Robin Van Persie’s record, the Dutchman will be keen to take every opportunity to extend his tally in hope of breaking the record with his national side when he faces Belgium.

Lukaku is already Belgium’s top scorer with an impressive 68 goals in 101 appearances for the senior side, the powerhouse centre forward will no doubt be looking to extend his goal tally and put a miserable season with Chelsea behind him.

All the favourites to score first, why not? France will be keen to kick off the Nations League positively against Denmark, moving on from their European championships heartache and looking to head into the World Cup in good form.

With the incredible form the now reinstated Benzema has shown this season, victory in the Nations League will only aid his pursuit of the Ballon d’Or trophy which he is the current favourite for.

Belgium, who have so often underperformed in major competitions will be keen to prove to the world they still have what it takes to win a major tournament when they face the Netherlands.

Whilst the Nations League may not be exactly that, a quick start in their opening game will put them well on their way to glory and not totally wasting their golden generation of talented players like Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois, and if Courtois is to perform even half as well as he did in the recent Champions League final, Belgium will have no qualms over conceding first.

After Croatia’s spectacular World Cup run in 2018, the eastern European team, centred around the generational talent of Luka Modric, will be keen to win some silverware while the central midfielder is still playing, and although their chances of the World Cup are few and far between, the Real Madrid midfielder will certainly look to the Nations League for national glory. They face Ralf Rangnick’s Austria on Friday night.

A longshot that could be worth a punt. Havertz will be Germany’s main option up top, with the form of Werner questionable for both club and country, his Chelsea teammate will likely take the reigns as the sole striker.

Insigne comes off the back of another impressive campaign for Napoli, with 11 goals and nine assists, the Italian winger will be looking to put his performance against Argentina behind him and get on the score sheet against a tough German side.

Thomas Muller, a mainstay in the Germany side for the past decade, will no doubt look to extend his goalscoring tally of 42 goals, and cement his name in the history books of international football for good.

Italy have been nothing short of shocking since their success at the European Championships last season, their 3-0 hammering by Argentina on Wednesday was the latest of poor results and performances from the Azzuri, in a year in which they failed to qualify for the World Cup this December, expect an inform Germany to heap on the misery this weekend.