Before the World Cup got underway, Group D was seen as one of the tougher groups. England were listed as the team with the fourth-best odds of winning the World Cup, and those odds have gotten better after former champion Japan were forced to settle for a draw against Argentina in their opener. Now, the Three Lionesses can put a hammerlock on the group with a win over Argentina this Friday. They are hefty favorites per the oddsmakers, but the Argentines are feeling confident after earning their first-ever result in this competition.
Don't miss this Women’s World Cup match from Stade Oceane in Le Havre, France at 3 p.m. ET on Friday, June 14, 2019. Catch every moment of the match live on FOX.
2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
England -1111
Argentina +2639
Draw +832
Over/Under 3 and 3.5
Odds Analysis
From the outset, Argentina decided to park the bus against Japan. They had been outscored by a combined margin of 33-2 in their six previous World Cup matches, so it’s hard to fault them for a conservative gameplan. Japan had a very difficult time breaking them down in the back and didn’t have any great chances in the first half of the game.
After halftime, things opened up a bit. Japan had better opportunities, but Argentina shut them down before anything became too dangerous. The final result was a very lackluster 0-0 draw where both teams combined to put just six shots on net.
England knew they would receive a tough test from Scotland in their opener, but they managed to prevail and earned a 2-1 victory. The Three Lionesses started the scoring early when Nikita Parris fired home a penalty kick in the 14th minute, and Ellen White doubled the lead for England just before halftime.
The second half saw Scotland have some decent opportunities, and they did cut the lead in half. However, England tightened up at the back after that, making them the only team in this group with three points.
Argentina Player to Watch
Estefania Banini is the captain of Argentina, and she is the most impactful player on the roster. While the team largely turtled against Japan, Banini was responsible for playing keep away. She would run up the pitch and dribble around or through defenders and attempt to win fouls in an effort to hold possession while time ticked off the clock. Banini is masterful with the ball at her feet, and its very likely Argentina uses the same gameplan against England. She will be very active on Friday.
England Player to Watch
Parris is a star in the making. She now has 13 goals in 35 games for the national team, and she plays with an edge. Parris has the explosiveness and skill to shake off opposing defenders, but what sets her apart is her physicality. That was on display against Scotland, and that’s one of the reasons the best club in the world (Olympique Lyon) signed her last month.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
I believe England will be far more decisive in the attacking third than Japan were when they played Argentina, and that will lead to a comfortable win for the Three Lionesses. The depth of the English attack really stands out, while Jill Scott and Karen Carney will both be able to pick out teammates and put them in dangerous spots. I don’t see Argentina putting up much of a fight on the attacking end, so I’ll call for the shutout too. On a side note, don’t be surprised if Argentina rack up a number of cards after they weren’t really punished for a physical game against Japan.
2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup Odds: England 3, Argentina 0
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