Spain W vs Finland W prediction: EUROPE: Euro Women betting tips on match 2022-07-07 16:00.
Whether it be Barcelonaâs inaugural UEFA Womenâs Champions League title in 2021, or world record crowds packing out the Camp Nou for Primera DivisiĂłn games in 2022, womenâs football in Spain continues to scale new and once unimaginable heights. Spainâs holy grail remains a major international title, and 25 years on from their best Womenâs Euros performance (semi-finals in 1997), this tournament represents another chance to end that trophyless drought.
After sitting 17th in FIFAâs rankings after the 2017 Euroâs, Spain approach this tournament ranked an all-time best seventh, with head coach Jorge Vilda assembling what would arguably have been Spainâs best ever squad were it not for leg injuries to all-time record goalscorer Jennifer Hermoso and 2021 Womenâs Ballon dâOr Alexia Putellas. Largely composed of the Barcelona side that won all 30 league games last season, Vildaâs players have also been relentless on the international stage, with Spain maintaining a 23-game unbeaten run (W19, D4).
Alongside Spain, Finland (#29) were one of eight undefeated group winners in qualifying (W7, D1), conceding just two goals in the process, but an unfavourable draw alongside title hopefuls Spain and Germany has left Finland as rank outsiders to progress. Anna Signeulâs team wonât go down without a fight though, as demonstrated during the qualification stage by a handful of last-gasp goals.
Semi-finalists in 2005, Finland return after missing the 2017 edition by way of a tiebreaker, but have sorely lacked the âgiant killingâ form that may be required to overcome Spain and/or Germany. Alarmingly, since the conclusion of their qualification campaign for this tournament, Finland have failed to win all seven outings as pre-match outsiders (D2, L5).
Players to watch: Spainâs injuries could open the door for 20yo ClĂ udia Pina, who was the Player of the Tournament in their 2018 FIFA U17 World Cup triumph. More recently, she scored in her last three appearances of at least 40 minutes for Barcelona. Meanwhile, Finnish forward Adelina Engman found the net before the hour mark in three of her last seven internationals.
Hot stat: Finland have conceded in both halves of their last six defeats.