When Group D was announced as England, Wales, France and the Netherlands, football analysts and fans were quick to point out that the Lionesses had found themselves in the “group of death” – a term so overused that it has essentially lost all meaning. However, from the perspective of England, they’re the favourites to emerge victorious from this group – it is far from the group of death many have proclaimed.
Granted, if you are a fan of Wales, then you’ve got a much stronger case, and as the Welsh team shapes up to face the England ladies, what are some of the things we should expect from this game?
What do the bookies say?
All the odds suggest that this should be a walk in the park for the Lionesses. Wales are 16/1 to qualify from the group, and they’re coming up against the highest-ranked team in the competition.
Women’s football is riding high at the moment, and there’s going to be added interest from gambling companies looking to capitalise on this. Many sportsbooks combine their odds with other gambling options, such as casino gaming, to appeal to as broad an audience as possible.
While that’s not to say the best casinos in Ireland are going to open up a branch for those looking to place sports bets, there’s a growing demand from gambling companies to link their casinos with their sportsbooks. Many use the concept of free spins to onboard new customers, and as the Euros gather momentum this summer, expect to see some of them capitalise on the odds, particularly as the tournament enters the latter stages.
Are the experts overlooking Wales?
Some experts believe that Wales will pose no challenge to England, and although they flew into the Euros on a high after demolishing Jamaica 7-0 in their last game before the tournament, Sarina Wiegman will be under no illusions that Wales could provide a similar test to that of the Austria game at the beginning of the last Euros.
At the start of the previous Euros, there was consensus among England fans and experts that Austria would pose no threat, but even though the Lionesses lifted the trophy, it was one of their most difficult games of the tournament.
The growth of women’s football, especially in England after the Euro 2022 success, will be brought into focus again this summer. Still, if the Lionesses stall out of the starting block against Wales, it’ll become a much more difficult task, knowing they’ll need to take maximum points against France and the Netherlands.
Wales enter the tournament on a high after a 1-1 draw against Sweden, a team ranked alongside the Lionesses in the world. Rhian Wilkinson, the Welsh boss, is fully aware that they go into the game as serious underdogs, a position they relish.
Jess Fishlock plays in her first Euros after reaching the pinnacle of the domestic game. If she can find the form that has taken her to the top of the domestic game, even in the twilight of her career, she could inspire the Welsh ladies to a famous result, but it is a tough ask against England, who go into the tournament as second favourites behind Spain.
How will the game pan out?
It all depends on which formations Wiegman and Wilkinson opt for, and what Group D looks like heading into the fixture. If England picks up two wins from their first two games, they could take their foot off the gas; they may not even need three points to qualify, but they will be keen to end the group stages on a high note and on top, if they can.
In the Nations League, Wales opted for a fairly aggressive 4-3-3 formation, which would play into the hands of the 4-2-3-1 that Wiegman has employed in the last few games. The exciting return of Lauren James will give England options moving forward. Still, even in her absence, or if she’s not in the starting eleven, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo will provide a big enough headache for Wales and get England over the line.
Although no team should be overlooked in this competition, England will have a sharper focus on the other two group games. That’s not to say Wales can’t put in a good account of themselves, but they are facing some of the best players in the tournament, and even if they aren’t firing on all cylinders, England should still be able to pick up all three points.
Final thoughts
The AFG Arena will be bouncing with anticipation, and the Welsh will be keen to give a good account of themselves against England. While few people outside of Wales will be backing them to emerge with anything from this game, that lack of pressure could be helpful if England do not get off to a fast start.
Ultimately, England has a bit too much experience in big tournaments and firepower upfront to lose this one; it’d be a massive shock if they weren’t able to get this over the line. While they might not be able to get past Spain in the latter stages of the tournament, you’d suspect that they will come out victorious from their group, and it’ll be a win against Wales that seals it.