Norway v England
Thursday 27th June 2000hrs
Football – International – Women’s World Cup
Pick Both teams to score
Bookmaker William Hill
Odds: 17/20 (odds taken 22.25 GMT, Tuesday 25th June)
We’re now into the last eight at the Women’s World Cup and the first of those quarter finals takes place on Thursday. England are favourites but Norway will be a dangerous opponent.
Women’s World Cup Betting at William Hill
Norway Preview – Can Norwegians shock England and move into semi-finals?
There was more coverage at the beginning of this tournament around the major omission from Norway’s squad than there was of the players in it. That in itself could easily have been a distraction, but the Norwegians have responded very well to it. Drawn in a potentially challenging section, Martin Sjogren’s team finished in second spot behind hosts France. Wins over Nigeria and South Korea was enough to see them make it through to the knockout phase for the ninth consecutive time. It would have been a shocked had Norway failed to progress from the group stage for the first time, so their first objective has been achieved. Winners in 1995, Norway have not made it past the last eight since 2007 when the finished in fourth spot. It’s a big ask for them to get past a top side in England but there’s no doubt they are capable.
Having been drawn against Australia in the previous round Norway were up against a very good team. Many favoured the Aussies to win that, but the Norwegians were the better side throughout and deservedly won through. They also showed their mental strength recovering from conceding a late goal in the closing minutes of the 90 to take the win on penalties.
England – Is this the time for England to live up to reputation and show their class?
Phil Neville’s England came into this competition as many people’s favourites to win their first ever Women’s World Cup. Their performances in the group stage were very much in-keeping with what had gone before under Neville, though. Despite the undoubted quality that exists in this squad, displays have been disjointed and lacking consistency. That said, England took maximum points from their three games and eased to the top of their group. That set up a last-16 tie with Cameroon which turned into one of the most controversial games in recent World Cup history. Whilst in some ways it was a relatively comfortable 3-0 win and England were a much better team; they also carried a slight bit of fortune. VAR has been a factor in many of these games so far and never more so in that clash.
The English players were able to keep their cool in tense circumstances which is to their credit. They will be delighted to have negotiated it however and looking forward to a more conventional game on Thursday. Striker Ellie White once again underlined her importance to this team with her fourth goal of the competition. White has scored in three of the four games played thus far.
Key-Facts – Norway v England
- Norway were deserved winners in their last-16 tie against Australia despite requiring penalties to progress
- England were involved in one of the most dramatic games at this World Cup in the previous round but proved too strong for Cameroon winning 3-0
- These teams met in the last World Cup at the last-16 stage with England narrowly progressing 2-1
Norway v England Betting Advice
This is a stage of the competition that Norway are very familiar with having reached it six times in the eight previous World Cups. The English have not played in as many but each time they have reached the finals they have also made it to the last eight. These two nations clashed in the last World Cup four years ago. It was England who were victorious on that occasion in the last-16 clash. A 2-1 win started their progress to the semi-finals and an eventual third place finish.
Although Norway lost out in the last competitive game between the two, they did win their last meeting. That was a friendly two years ago and another indication that Thursday’s game is no forgone conclusion. England have looked good in spells throughout the tournament but have also been vulnerable. Norway have the attacking players to threaten their opponents and have already scored seven times in four matches. Whilst the English have kept three clean sheets this is likely to be their biggest test yet. It may be Neville’s team have enough to edge past Norway but I expect them to be tested all the way.
