*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
There are six things I love in life. Four of them are just different cuts of beef, one of them is the person who created the reclining sofa – and the last one is tournament football.
Right now, I’m sat in a house in Derbyshire with three England fans, covering the Women’s Euros. It’s been as insufferable as you’d imagine. The reason for that is because followers of the English men’s side are loud and obnoxious but they have this underlying sense of fear that they’ll make a balls of it.
There is no such apprehension among the good women of England, I promise you that.
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WHAT: UEFA Euro 2020 – Group A: Austria v Norway
WHEN: Friday, July 15: 8pm
WHERE: Brighton – American Express Community Stadium
HOW TO WATCH: iPlayer
But on a better note, it has meant that, albeit against my will, I’ve seen an awful lot of Group A in this competition and I feel best-placed to advise you on what way these teams will treat their final group game.
With England laughing at Northern Ireland’s misfortune as if they’re the sporting embodiment of the Conservative party, it leaves Austria and Norway to fight out the final spot in the last eight.
And you know that means? Oh yes, it’s a bloody knockout game folks. So strap in, and keep your eyes on the prize. Here are the three best bets I have for you.
Want to know more about the two sides on show?
- Here’s the lowdown on Austria ahead of the Norway showdown
- Norway were hammered by England in matchday 2, here’s all you need to know about their team
Short-Priced Punt: Over 2.5 Goals
There are just too many technically-good footballers in these two groups for there not to be goals, and perhaps my favourite thing about them is that they’re really not a typical possession-focused pairing.
Norway know their strength lies in the final third, so they look to distribute as quickly as possible, and maybe no side in the Women’s Euros so far carry the ball as often as the Austrians (outside of maybe bloody England).
The ball will spend an awful lot of time in the danger zone so I think it would be a wise decision to back a few goals here.
Value Play: Austria to Win
I think star power plays such a prominent role in this sport. Norway have Ada Hegerberg and Caroline Graham Hansen, so therefore they must be the superior side. Right, well, if they can overcome the psychological pounding they just got from England, they maybe.
But this is a team that’s really struggling for confidence because every time they got a foot on the ball, they were bullied off it almost immediately.
Austria are moving the ball into clever spaces, and they do so without embracing reckless abandon. They’re the most balanced team and that’s what matters here.
Long Shot: 3-0 Austria
Yano how confidence breeds confidence? Well yano what breeds hammerings? Hammerings. And honestly, Norway could be done after this.
The Austrians’ opening day result was clearly franked by England’s MD2 display over these very Norwegians.
And that’s the chasm between their approach. Austria are measured and suited to tournament football while Norway are relying on going gung-ho.
Their manager is under fire and the squad are disengaged. There’s every chance this could be his last time in charge and a hammering would confirm it.
Austria v Norway betting tips:
Short-Priced Punt: Over 2.5 Goals
Value Play: Austria to Win
Long Shot: 3-0 Austria
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
More Football tips
- Bet Builder Tips: Paddy trader’s great 8/1 flutter for Denmark v Spain
- Football Tips: Our 3 best bets for Finland v Germany including a 45/1 punt
- Football Tips: Andy Robson’s deadly double for Saturday’s Scottish action
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