England Women v Northern Ireland Women: Lionesses expected to roar again
Euro 2022: Preview, odds and England Women v Northern Ireland Women betting tips
England’s final group game at Euro 2022 is already a dead rubber having already reached the quarter-finals with a record-breaking 8-0 victory over Norway on Monday night.
The Lionesses were 6-0 up at the break, but Alessia Russo added a seventh with a header and the prolific Beth Mead completed her hat-trick nine minutes from time.
Friday’s opponents are already out of the tournament following back-to-back defeats against Norway and Austria, and are 60/1 to cause a massive upset, so let’s look at some of the talking points in our England Women v Northern Ireland Women betting tips.
England Women v Northern Ireland Women form
The Lionesses have won 14 and drawn two of their 16 games since Sarina Wiegman took charge in September last year, scoring an incredible 93 goals at an average of 5.85 per match.
The eight they scored against Norway, who were much the better team in a 4-1 victory over Northern Ireland in their opening group game, was the highest in the competition’s history, so it’s small wonder they are 1/18 to head into a clash with either Spain or Denmark with a perfect record.
Wiegman kept faith with the same starting XI that had beaten Austria 1-0 in their opening game, and the Dutchwoman is not expected to make wholesale changes despite qualification being in the bag.
Ellen Whiiiiiiite!
🤓 @Ellsbells89 🤓
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 12, 2022
Wiegman said: “I believe in rhythm. I think when you have nine days in between the Norwegian game and the
quarter-finals, that’s too long, I think you need more rhythm and to keep the focus and keep playing. So, I wouldn’t expect lots of rotations. During the game probably, but not before.”
However, the likes of Russo, Alex Greenwood, Ella Toone, Chloe Kelly, Nikita Parris, Jessica Carter and veteran Jill Scott will all be hoping to get starting roles on Friday.
The strength in depth within the Lionesses squad means that whoever takes to the pitch is unlikely to make much difference to the outcome, but it may pay dividends to look at some of the more unusual markets in our England Women v Northern Ireland Women betting tips.
Russo netted the opener in a 4-0 win against Switzerland in the build-up to the tournament and she is 21/20 to outscore the opposition, while Toone is 6/4 in the same market.
Northern Ireland, making their debut in a major tournament, have lost their last six matches, one of which came against the Lionesses.
England Women v Northern Ireland Women head to head
The teams have met twice in World Cup qualifiers in the last nine months, with England winning by a 9-0 aggregate, and the Lionesses also won 6-0 in a friendly in 2021, so the signs look bleak for Northern Ireland.
In October last year, Mead scored a hat-trick in a 4-0 home win and three months ago Georgia Stanway and Lauren Hemp both bagged doubles in a 5-0 victory in Belfast.
What a goal, @bmeado9 😅
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 12, 2022
Surprisingly it was goalless at half-time at Wembley and only 1-0 at the break in Northern Ireland, a scoreline which is 21/10, bearing in mind Wiegman is likely to rest some of her star players, although such is the strength in depth in her squad the Euro 2022 hosts’ fringe players are likely to go for the jugular in a bid to impress their coach.
In our #GetAPrice section, England are 6/4 to overcome a -1 handicap, score in both halves and net +4.5 goals in the game.
However, the next of our England Women v Northern Ireland betting tips is for the hosts to win both halves, score at least three in the match and keep a clean sheet at evens which is also a #GetAPrice special.
England Women v Northern Ireland team news
Northern Ireland striker Simone McGill is out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained during the 4-1 hammering by Norway.
Kirsty McGuiness and Marissa Callaghan started up front against Austria, but Shiels may decide to mix things up.
England’s Lotte Wubben-Moy was back in training on Wednesday following her absence after testing positive for coronavirus.
Fellow defender Demi Stokes will not be involved in the Northern Ireland match because of a minor knee injury.
Goalscorer odds
With Wiegman possibly making a couple of changes it’s probably best to hold fire until the starting XI line-ups are announced an hour before kick-off.
Russo, England and Toone are 13/5, 14/5 and 7/2 to open the scoring in our England Women v Northern Ireland betting tips, while Scott can be backed at 13/2.
"The atmosphere. The noise. That first half."@Ellsbells89 enjoying the moment but ready to focus on Northern Ireland 🔜 pic.twitter.com/Z65IkIizuV
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 12, 2022
The best value odds in this market appear to be Manchester City defender Greenwood, who has scored five goals in 49 appearances with the Lionesses and is 28/1 to break the deadlock.
Ellen White scored a double against Norway to make it 52 international goals, one behind Wayne Rooney’s all-time record, but she may be rested.
If not, she can be backed at 5/2 to score at least twice and it’s 7/2 on Mead.
Match Info
Where: St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton
When: 20:00, Friday 15th July
How to watch: BBC 1
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication