England vs Australia LIVE: Result and reaction as Ollie Watkins’ goal secures Three Lions victory

The Three Lions kick off their October matches with a friendly against the Socceroos at Wembley

Minute's silence held ahead of England v Australia in honour of victims of Israel-Palestine war

England edged past Australia in an international friendly at Wembley to keep their recent winning run alive and give them a touch of momentum heading into a crucial Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy next week.

After Gareth Southgate named an inexperienced starting XI to take on the Socceroos, the Three Lions took their time to settle. The controlled possession but failed to make much of an impact in the first half with Ollie Watkins - leading the line in the absence of Harry Kane - missing two great chances.

At the other end of the pitch, Australia should have gone ahead through Ryan Strain whose shto from the right side of the box was beautifully kept out by a back-tracking Lewis Dunk.

After the break things were different. England upped the tempo and operated higher up the pitch. Trent Alexander-Arnold found Jack Grealish in the box and the Man City man picked out Watkins at the far post who tapped in the winner.

Relive the action from Wembley and get all the latest odds and tips for the match right here:

England vs Australia live

• Ollie Watkins and Lewis Dunk emerge with credit on England’s audition night against Australia
• England defeat Australia 1-0 in an international friendly at Wembley
• Levi Colwill and Eddie Nketiah made Three Lions debuts
• 90+3’ FULL-TIME! - England maintain their unbeaten run (ENG 1-0 AUS)
• 57’ GOAL! - Watkins taps in Grealish’s pass (ENG 1-0 AUS)
• 45’ CHANCE! - Dunk blocks Strain’s shot to keep things level (ENG 0-0 AUS)
• 30’ CHANCE! - Watkins’ effort is cleared off the line (ENG 0-0 AUS)
• 21’ CLOSE! - Duke’s volley goes wide from inside the box (ENG 0-0 AUS)
• 12’ SAVE! - Johnstone called into action from long range (ENG 0-0 AUS)

[13 October 2023 18:25 · Mike Jones]

England’s Ollie Watkins: ‘I used to shop in Sainsbury’s ... then I came to Aston Villa and I couldn’t’

Ollie Watkins is the man of the moment: seven goals and four assists this season in a free-flowing Aston Villa side, including a recent hat-trick against Brighton in front of Gareth Southgate, meant it wasn’t a surprise when he was called up to play for England last week, 18 months after his last cap.

Except that three weeks ago, he wasn’t the man at all. He still hadn’t scored in the Premier League. He was struggling to take chances and he was getting some stick, which is why he celebrated his first league goal of the season, against Chelsea in late September, with his fingers in his ears. Zoom out and his form has been exceptional for a year, but criticism is never far away.

“I think all fans are quite fickle,” Watkins says. “If you go a few games without a goal, people will be saying, ‘he’s on a drought, he can’t score’. Then I score four goals in two games and everyone kind of loves you.”

[13 October 2023 18:20 · Mike Jones]

England vs Australia

Australia last faced a European nation in a friendly in June 2018, beating Hungary 2-1.

Indeed, the Socceroos have won their last two friendlies with European nations (also 4-0 versus Czechia in June 2018), after losing nine of their previous 12 (won one, drawn two).

[13 October 2023 18:15 · Mike Jones]

Ange Postecoglou inspires Australia ahead of Three Lions clash

Australia manager Graham Arnold says he used Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou to try and inspire his side before their friendly against England.

Arnold spoke to Postecoglou and former Australia head coach Guus Hiddink asking them to speak to his players before tonight’s game.

"The speeches by Ange were very similar to what we’ve been saying for years," said Arnold, "Doing it for the kids in Australia, the nation and the supporters."

[13 October 2023 18:10 · Mike Jones]

England vs Australia

England and Australia will face at Wembley for the very first time. Only two nations have ever beaten the Three Lions in their first game against them at the national stadium – Hungary in 1953 (6-3) and Sweden in 1959 (3-2).

(The FA via Getty Images)

[13 October 2023 18:05 · Mike Jones]

Experimental England side must have right mindset against Australia, says Southgate

Gareth Southgate wants England’s players to be mentally “spot on” and grab their opportunity to impress as he experiments against old sporting rivals Australia.

The Three Lions can seal their place at next summer’s European Championships when they host holders Italy at Wembley in Tuesday’s Group C encounter.

[13 October 2023 18:00 · Mike Jones]

England vs Australia prediction

Perhaps the game might get a bit more spicy than some previous friendlies have been noted for, on account of the natural sporting rivalry that occurs between these two nations, but ultimately the gap in quality should prove significant.

England 3-1 Australia.

[13 October 2023 17:55 · Mike Jones]

England vs Australia predicted line-ups

England XI: Pickford; Walker, Guehi, Colwill, Trippier; Rice, Alexander-Arnold, Bellingham; Bowen, Kane, Maddison

Australia XI: Ryan; Miller, Rowles, Burgess, Behich; Irvine, Luongo, Baccus, O’Neill; Duke, Mabil

[13 October 2023 17:50 · Mike Jones]

England vs Australia team news

Gareth Southgate might opt to shuffle the pack before the Italy match but he has habitually kept a fairly consistent core and just altered a few players around them.

As such, the in-form Jarrod Bowen will be one hoping to get a chance, while Trent Alexander-Arnold may get another run-out in midfield in a non-competitive environment having missed out on the last international break through injury.

Levi Colwill has impressed for Chelsea so could get a look-in in defence, be it centrally or on the left given no natural left-backs are in the squad.

Australia are without a host of regulars including Ajdin Hrustic, Mathew Leckie, Jamie Maclaren and Bailey Wright - plus Aaron Mooy, who has retired.

[13 October 2023 17:45 · Mike Jones]

How to watch England vs Australia

The Three Lions face the Socceroos on Friday 13 October 2023 at Wembley, with kick-off set for 7:45pm BST.

All of England’s fixtures outside of international tournaments are for now screened free to air on Channel 4, and can be streamed on the Channel 4 website and app.

If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch major sporting events then you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN roundup is here to help: get great deals on the best VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are and also with the terms of their service provider.

[13 October 2023 17:18 · Mike Jones]

England vs Australia

Good evening and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of England vs Australia.

The Three Lions are back in action at Wembley as they play host to the Socceroos in a warm-up to Tuesday night’s crucial Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy. Australia reached the last-16 stage of the World Cup, making it out of a tricky group in the process, so won’t be easy opponents this evening. They’ll want to impress against the old enemy and will come into the match with a strong side that should keep England on their toes.

Gareth Southgate meanwhile may decide to take the opportunity to play some of the newer members of the squad. Preparations continue for next summer’s European Championship and the England boss may decide to switch up formations or personnel this evening in a rare international friendly.

Kick off is at 7.45pm and we’ll have all the action throughout the night including team news when it drops shortly so stick around as England host Australia at Wembley.