Women’s World Cup: Danish Danger Facing the Aussies

Australia vs Denmark

Women’s World Cup hosts Australia are just four games away from glory after winning Group B to qualify for the knockout phase of the 2023 showcase.

Now the serious business begins for the last 16, and the draw has not been overly kind to Australia as they come up against a Denmark side which is notoriously difficult to beat. Only three places separate the nations in the FIFA World Rankings with the Matildas in 10th seeing 13^th placed Denmark over their shoulders.

Both teams won two of their three group matches and finished on six points, which was enough to see Australia edge out Nigeria and for the Danes to finish second to England in Group D.

The pre-match Women’s World Cup 2023 betting odds make the Matildas favourites to win this game, but Denmark are a tough team to break down, and the hosts will have to be patient and careful.

Talking Points

Australia come good when it matters

The Matildas opened their tournament with a nervous 1-0 win over the Republic of Ireland and were then on the wrong side of a five-goal thriller against Nigeria to put some unwanted pressure on their final game against Canada.

But they responded brilliantly, beating the Olympic Champions 4-0 to come out of the Group B logjam on top.

Striker Hayley Rasso’s first half double saw off the Maple Leaves and, after Mary Fowler made it three on the hour, defender Steph Catley planted home a 94^th minute penalty, her second of the tournament, to round off a pretty much perfect performance against a tough opponent.

Canada had the lion’s share of possession at 61-per cent, and each team had 10 shots each. But with six shots on target, the Matildas were more clinical in front of goal, while West Ham keeper Mackenzie Arnold stopped anything the Canadians could throw at her.

Head coach Tony Gustavsson left Sam Kerr on the bench for the Canada game, but the Chelsea star is hoping to be fit enough to start against Denmark and she has plenty of Women’s World Cup 2023 highlights in her locker.

Australia are at odds of 13.00 to win the tournament on home soil and, if Kerr is fit and firing, they are in with a fighting chance.

Harder leads from the front

The Danes were coolly efficient in their qualification campaign without being overly spectacular. Lars Sondergaard’s side opened up with a 1-0 win over China and then were unlucky to lose 1-0 to group D winners England.

Much like Australia, Denmark then put in a strong performance to see off a spirited Haiti side 2-0 to book their place in the Round of 16. Denmark skipper Pernille Harder inspired her team onto victory as she scored her first ever World Cup goal when she slammed home a 21^st minute penalty.

From that point on, the Danes settled into their rhythm, controlling the pace of the game and keeping the ball with 62-per cent possession.

And with six shots to two on target, they had more menace than their opponents, though it took until the 100^th minute of the game for them to confirm their Round of 16 place.

Harder was unlucky not to add a second of her own, as she had a 45^th minute effort narrowly rule offside and then her 83^rd minute header was cancelled out as Signe Brun was adjudged to have fouled the Haiti keeper.

Reading midfielder Sanne Troelsgaard ended any hopes of a Haitian comeback when she struck on 110 minute to send the Denmark fans into ecstasy.

History

These two teams have played each other three times, and the Danes currently have their noses in front by two to one, though the Matildas won the last meeting, a friendly in 2022 as Caitlin Foord scored a second half double in a 3-1 victory in Copenhagen.

In terms of recent form, there is nothing to choose as both nations won four and lost two of their last six games.

Betting Tip

So Sydney on Monday is the place to be, and we have a fascinating bout in store here with Australia slightly odds on at a SBOTOP price of 1.85, while Denmark can be backed to win at 3.54 and the draw is 3.06.

For a correct scoreline, 2-0 and 2-1 to Australia are both priced at 6.95, while a 1-1 draw is the second-most likely outcome of all at 5.41.

I think the Matildas should work their way through to the quarter-finals, but I have a sneaking suspicion they will have to go to extra time.

 

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