September international break preview: England embark on a new era

The September international break is packed with high-profile fixtures, many of which present a tricky puzzle for sports bettors to unravel.

The start of the Nations League takes centre stage in Europe, while the latest batch of World Cup qualifiers will dominate the headlines in South America.

With that in mind, read on as we look at some of standout international matches in September, starting with a clash between two teams who have plenty to prove.

Republic of Ireland vs England

Fans inclined towards placing a sports bet would be well-advised to adopt a cautious approach to wagering on the Republic of Ireland vs England game.

The Three Lions are embarking on a new era under interim manager Lee Carsley and it will be intriguing to see how the team performs.

Ireland have appointed former Iceland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson and he will be eager to make life difficult for England at the Aviva Stadium.

England are the bookmakers’ favourites to win the game, but it would be no surprise if Ireland upset the odds by snatching at least a draw.

France vs Italy

Group A2 is one of the most eye-catching sections in the Nations League, with big-hitters France, Italy and Belgium paired with a gritty Israel team.

The clash between France and Italy could be a classic given that both teams are bidding to put their respective European Championship disappointments behind them.

France underperformed in the previous edition of the Nations League and could be vulnerable again in a tournament they may not feel motivated about.

By contrast, Italy have twice finished third in the Nations League and could be the value bet at odds of 7/2 to finish top of the group.

Portugal vs Croatia

The bookies expect Portugal and Croatia to dominate Group A1 and a strong case can be made for backing the latter to claim top spot at odds of 2/1.

Croatia topped a tough group in their last Nations League campaign and could cause Portugal plenty of problems if they produce their best form.

With veteran forward Cristiano Ronaldo showing no signs of stepping aside, Portugal’s attacking performances could be compromised.

If Croatia can take something from their opening game in Portugal, they would be a good bet to finish top of their group.

Germany vs Hungary

Germany suffered a heartbreak defeat against Spain in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals and will be eager to make amends in the Nations League.

They showed plenty of improvement during the tournament and were perhaps unfortunate to face a Spain team who had a little extra class when it mattered.

However, Germany’s performances on home soil were a major improvement and manager Julian Nagelsmann will be keen to build on the foundations he has laid.

Germany defeated Hungary 2-0 in the group stage at Euro 2024 and a similar result is expected in their latest encounter.

Netherlands vs Germany

Nagelsmann’s side have another opportunity to put their Euro 2024 disappointment behind them when they visit the Netherlands in their second Nations League game.

The Dutch embarked on a thrilling run to the semi-finals this summer and can count themselves unfortunate to have lost to a late goal against England.

They will be keen to shrug off that result by making a positive start to their Nations League campaign, but will not find things easy against Germany.

Backing the draw could be the way for sports bettors to play this one, particularly as there has been little to choose between the two sides in recent meetings.

Colombia vs Argentina

Argentina have made a strong start to their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, winning five out of six matches to sweep to the top of the South American group.

They should have little difficulty booking their place at the tournament, although there may be a few hiccups along the way.

One of those could come in Colombia, with the home side currently unbeaten after six outings in the CONMEBOL qualifying group.

They have kept four clean sheets during that run, which suggests a low-scoring draw could be the outcome when they face Argentina.

Paraguay vs Brazil

A feature of recent international breaks has been Brazil’s poor form, with the five-time world champions suffering three successive defeats.

They head into the latest round of games searching for an upturn in fortunes, but there is no guarantee they will return to winning ways.

A home game against Ecuador has the potential to be tricky, while a visit to Paraguay could also cause the Samba Kings plenty of problems.

Two victories would put a different complexion on their qualifying campaign, but anything less will leave them looking nervously over their shoulders.

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