England v New Zealand Netball World Cup Semi-Final Odds & Predictions

Roses to maintain winning momentum over NZ

Sports Betting

Netball World Cup 2019 Semi-Final Preview – Saturday, July 20th, 2019 at 3.00 pm

The biggest match of the tournament for the Roses arrives on Saturday afternoon. The tournament hosts will be facing up to the Silver Ferns of New Zealand. While England are the favourites with the bookmakers, they know that they are going to get a tough game from the Kiwis who have reached the last five World Cup Finals.

England v New Zealand Odds*

England 1/4
New Zealand 11/4
* (betting odds taken from bet365 on July 19th, 2019 at 8:39 pm)

Can the Roses reach their second World Cup Final?

Since the reformatting of the Netball World Cup starting in 1991, time and time against England have knocked on the door of the final, but haven’t been able to get there. England have finished in the top four in each of the last seven editions since the reformatting, three of those ending in bronze metal finishes. That’s where they were left four years ago. Since then they became the Commonwealth champions and this looks to be their best shot ever of making it through to the showcase match.

England to win World Cup outright
2/1

Skybet

 

This time the Roses look to be in a very strong position. They went undefeated through their main group stage, including taking a comprehensive win over the big threat of Jamaica, who have finished in the top four in each of the last five World Cup editions. In their final group stage match (England had already qualified by then) they took out a South Africa side who had won all four of their Group G games up until that point. They haven’t let the home support down.

Silver Ferns with the potential to end England’s dreams

Four years ago it was at the semi-final stage where England lost to New Zealand. The Kiwis are one of the powerhouses in the game. They last won the title in 2003, one of four World Cup titles they have earned. They have taken eight second-place finishes, all of those to rivals Australia. It has, incidentally, been an Australia v New Zealand final in each of the last five editions of the World Cup. In their main group stage at this year’s World Cup they had to settle for second place behind Australia, having lost to them by a point.

New Zealand scored more points in their main group stage than England did, although the latter had a slightly tougher group to be fair. Will, that defeats against Australia had knocked some wind out of their sails? Their momentum has been stopped, unlike England’s. The fact that New Zealand pushed Australia so close says a great deal about them. Australia have won six of the last seven World Cups and the last three on the bounce. Australia will face underdogs South Africa in the other semi-finals. So the winner of this one between New Zealand and England will be anticipating taking on the Diamonds in the showcase match.

Predictions

This should be a tough battle for both of the nations. The Silver Ferns are a tough side and physically fit and strong. But England have looked equally as sharp and the Roses have won their last three games against the Kiwis. England to win.