Sports Blog 22/06/2015: FIFA Women’s World Cup Last 16 Preview – Norway vs England, Monday 22nd June 2015

The FIFA Women’s World Cup is in the knockout rounds, and England are ready to try and progress beyond their usual exit point as they face Norway at 10pm on BBC Three.

Already 5 of the 8 quarter-final places have been decided, and most of the usual suspects are still in play. China will face either the USA (in a repeat of the 1999 final) or Colombia, whilst the pick of the quarters will be Germany against France, who beat Sweden and South Korea respectively in emphatic performances.

The winner of England’s match against Norway will play Canada in the quarters after the hosts knocked out Switzerland, and would play Australia (who knocked out the previously unbeaten Brazil), Japan or the Netherlands if they reached the semi-finals.



Norway have a storied history in the World Cup; ranked 11th in the world, the Grasshoppers were winners in 1995 and runners-up in the inaugural tournament in 1991. Since then they have been solid, if slightly less than spectacular, with a quarter-final place in 2003 sandwiched between 4th placed finishes in ’99 and ’07. 2011 saw them suffer a shock exit at the group stages, after only managing a 1-0 win over Equatorial Guinea and losses against Brazil and Australia, but they seem to have found their form once again in the run up to this year’s tournament. They only lost one game in their qualifying, topping UEFA Group 5 ahead of the Netherlands, and were runners-up in the 2013 European Championships to Germany.

Cut to the 2015 tournament and Norway escaped a mixed bag of a group, with a 4-0 win over Thailand and a 3-1 victory over Ivory Coast, both sides World Cup debutantes, being joined by a hard-earned 1-1 win against world no. 1s Germany. This leaves Norway at a Women’s World Cup Index spread of 23-26 and at 28/1 to lift the cup.

England, on the other hand, had a slightly tougher route to the knockouts, but facing an admittedly stronger group. Their opening loss to France raised fears over England’s ability to against bigger sides, but a 2-1 win over group whipping boys Mexico, and an impressive final game victory over Colombia saw them finish second behind France on goal difference following Les Bleues 5-0 demolition of El Tricolor. This latter game showed that England can turn up on the day against stronger sides, and puts them in a good position going into the last 16.



The Three Lionesses have never progressed beyond the knockout round in a World Cup; and frustratingly for England, even if they do win against Norway there is an extra set of games this tournament, meaning they could still exit at the quarters as they have done in each of their 3 previous appearances. Their Women’s World Cup Index spread of 26-29, with fixed odds of 16/1, suggests they may at least make that quarter-final appearance against Canada.

In terms of who can make a difference, Lyon’s Norwegian star Ada Hegerberg has nabbed 3 goals in the tournament so far, whilst Isabell Herlovsen of LSK Kvinner has grabbed 2 goals; both are on a Player Markets spread of 11-14, a spread that is made up of the total number of goal-scoring minutes for a player. For England, the one to watch is Birmingham City’s Karen Carney; with 2 goals so far, including a vital opener against Colombia, Carney is at a Player Market spread of 5-8 behind the likes of Eniola Aluko and Toni Duggan, both at Player Market spreads of 13-16.

On paper Norway have a formidable history at this tournament that England can’t match; however, the Three Lionesses escaped a tougher group and will have better preparation against top sides this tournament than the Norwegians. This has left them at a very slim England/Norway Goal Supremacy sports spread betting quote of 0-0.2 with a low Total Goals spread of 2.1-2.3.