Women's Euro Championship Betting: Danish domination

Norway v Denmark
Monday, 19:45
Live on British Eurosport 2

Norway were supposed to be getting better under their new Coach Martin Sjogren, but their performances here so far suggest that he's simply not cut out for the job. Denmark showed how you can defend against the Dutch flyer Shanice Van De Sanden in the hosts' second game, but Sjogren did nothing to either prepare for, or react to, the chaos that she caused in the Group opener.

He followed that up with poor selections against Belgium, and his team looked a demotivated shambles. I hear rumours that all may not be well in the camp, and Denmark are an absolute must bet to beat what's being billed as a tightly-contested Scandinavian derby. I'm not sure that it will be, as the Danes have a good result against Belgium under their belts, and were unfortunate to lose to the Netherlands.

The Danes have serious quality in the shape of Pernille Harder, a normally reliable finisher in Nadia Nadim, and they are solid defensively. Despite the presence of the brilliant Ada Hegerberg in the Norwegian side, I'm not sure that they can boast any of the above, and I'm stunned to see Denmark as big as 2.86 to win and make sure that Norway are eliminated from the tournament. That rates as the bet of Euro 2017 so far, and by some distance.

Recommended Bet
Back Denmark to beat Norway @ 2.86


Belgium v Netherlands
Monday, 19:45
Live on British Eurosport

The Netherlands have taken themselves to the brink of the last eight with two 1-0 victories, and now they face an over-achieving Belgian side in their final Group game. The Dutch have been a breath of fresh air so far, and the home crowd has been a revelation: buying into the tournament, and recognising what a talented team they have to watch.

I've been impressed with the Dutch, but have to qualify that with further comments about their defending: they were fortunate not to concede against Norway, and then extraordinarily lucky against Denmark. Had Pernille Harder or Sanne Troelsberg taken chances at key times, then Denmark could have won, and I was also worried by the way that the home team's fitness seemed to fade late on.

I'm not convinced that they'll get much further than the quarter-finals, and am more sure than ever about England's prospects here: they're currently trading at 6.00 to win Euro 2017, and remain a must-bet.

Belgium have done brilliantly to go down narrowly against Denmark and then beat Norway and they are a side that is improving rapidly. With the Netherlands looking suspect, Belgium full of energy, and with a draw enough to take the Dutch through as Group winners, I'm going to suggest a lay of the hosts at a short price. They're trading as if they're near certainties, and they're most definitely not.

Recommended Bet
Lay Netherlands against Belgium @ 1.54

Iceland v Austria
Wednesday, 19:45
Live on British Eurosport

They're unlikely to go on and win it, but Austria have been the story of this competition so far. They beat Switzerland in what was their first ever match at a major tournament, and they backed that up with a brilliant 1-1 draw against France in their second game.

I thought that Iceland had a good chance of beating Switzerland in their second match, and they took the lead with their first shot on target at Euro 2017, but the Swiss proved too strong in the end, and they may just provide stern opposition for France in their final game.

The way that Iceland play means that they may just about be finished, though. They're out of the tournament, they've worked hard, and they'll be tired as they come up against Dominik Thalhammer's high energy, all-action Austria. The Austrians' work-rate gave France nightmares in Utrecht, and with a defence that was quite brilliantly marshalled by Katharina Schiechtl, they restricted France to a hatful of chances.

They have enough going forward to get past a dogged Iceland, with Sarah Zadrazil likely to return from her ankle injury, and I'd make Austria odds on to win this. We can back them at odds against, and we should take that chance.

Recommended Bet
Back Austria to beat Iceland @ 2.10

England

A final note, broken record style, about England and their chances of progression. If things don't go to plan in Group C, then winning Group D may just give England a really tough quarter-final, but I'd keep the faith, and if you haven't backed them already in the outright, then you should consider doing so.

Germany and France are underperforming terribly at this tournament, and the market doesn't seem to have reacted properly to the weaknesses of the two favourites. England still rate an outstanding bet at 6.00.