Women’s World Cup: Lionesses are Ready to Roar

England vs Argentina

The next big match of the Women’s World Cup takes place at the Stade Oceane in Le Havre on Friday when England takes on Argentina in a Group D clash.

It’s a chance to see one of the favourites in action as England tries to follow up an opening victory over Scotland with another three points. The latest Women’s World Cup 2019 betting odds at SBOBET have Phil Nevilles’ team as a red hot favourite to make it two wins from two against an Argentina side which exceeded everyone’s expectations by holding Japan to a draw in its opener.

Talking Points

England on the right track

There have been high hopes mounting in the England camp after a great showing in the SheBelieves Cup earlier this year when they won the tournament held in the USA. Former Manchester United and England utility star Neville has instilled a winning mentality in the Lionesses, and they hope to be there right at the end of this World Cup.

Right back Lucy Bronze starred against Scotland and says the Lionesses can go deep into the competition if they can play as they did in the first 45 minutes. Along with winger Nikita Parris, the Lyon player tormented the Scots all afternoon with raid after raid down the right flank. England flagged a little in the second half but Bronze is concentrating on the positives. She says: “It wasn’t the ideal performance, but in the first half we played extremely well. The second half has kept us on our toes, striving to improve – and you can’t ask for anything more than to win your first game in the tournament.”

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2019 Copa America

Another positive for Neville was the form of 32 year old midfielder Jill Scott. The Manchester City star dominated the middle of the park against the Scots, breaking up play and launching England attacks with an energetic box to box performance. The head coach believes Scott has another two World Cups in her and on that showing he may be right.

England has a genuine chance to win this tournament, with Germany, holders USA and hosts France the biggest challenges to Neville’s team. Les Bleues got off to a flyer in a destruction of South Korea in the opening match and they could well be the team to beat.

Argentina punching above its weight

Not many people expected Argentina to pick up many, if any, points in this competition, but they fought hard in their first outing and got their just reward.

Estefania Banini put in a player of the match performance in Argentina’s opening fixture against Japan, inspiring her team to earn a tough point in a game they were expected to lose. The 0-0 outcome was pretty big Women’s World Cup 2019 news as Japan, ranked seventh in the world, were expected to brush the 37^th ranked Argentines aside.

Argentina hoping for a positive result against England in their upcoming Women’s World Cup match — Sole Jaimes celebrating at the end Women’s World Cup Group D soccer match between Argentina and Japan at the Parc des Princes

The Argentina men’s team is about to embark on another Copa America campaign and with a team full of world superstars they will be one of the favourites in Brazil, but it’s a very different story for the women’s team. Playing in their third World Cup, they have had little chance to build up a team spirit, hardly playing a game between 2015 and 2018.

They were back in action in last year’s Copa America and qualified for the World Cup by winning a play-off. It is also Coach Carlos Borrello’s third World Cup and he is relying heavily on captain Banini. The attacking midfielder has impressed at Levante but she needs support, and that might come in the shape of 22 year old Milagros Menendez, blessed with quick feet and electrifying pace.

She could be one for the England defence to be wary of.

History

These two teams have only met once before and that was way back in 2007 when the Lionesses won 6-1.

And recent form is very much in England’s favour, having won three of the last five games, while Argentina hasn’t registered a win over that period.

But in their first appearance at the World Cup since 2007, Borrello’s side will try to stay hard to beat.

Betting Tip

	England vs Argentina	First half over 1.50 goals @ 2.08
	June 15, 03:00(GMT+8)

With England at 1.084, the draw at 6.00 and Argentina out at 30.00 in the latest odds here at SBOBET, we only see this game going one way, and while Argentina held out against Japan, I can’t see them repeating that feat.

Neville will be demanding more of the standard of play his team showed in the first half against Scotland and, if he gets it, there will be goals.