Denmark W vs Spain W prediction: EUROPE: Euro Women betting tips on match 2022-07-15 19:00.
Women’s Euro 2022 Group B reaches a thrilling climax as Denmark, runners-up in 2017, take on Spain at the Brentford Community Stadium with a place in the knock-out stages at stake. The Danes kick-started their tournament last time out by beating Finland 1-0 in what proved to be the perfect response to an 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Germany in their opening group game.
It has been a strange year for Lars Søndergaard’s side, who withdrew from the Algarve Cup in March due to a significant number of COVID-19 cases in the squad, meaning their two defeats in the competition can perhaps be ignored. Even so, they have won 12 of their last 16 competitive fixtures (D1, L3), while they have reached at least the semi-finals in three of the last five European Championships.
Spain have also lost to Germany (2-0) and beaten Finland (4-1) in their opening two games, meaning a draw will be enough to take them through to the knock-out stages due to their superior goal difference. They can take heart from their last meeting with Denmark, who they beat for the first time ever in a friendly last year (prior D3, L9), a result which highlights the improving nature of this Spanish side.
La Roja, who have reached the last eight at the last two Women Euros, were unbeaten in 24 outings (W20, D4) before that Germany defeat, in a run that at one point included 15 wins in a row! Spain might point to injuries to midfielder Alexia Putellas and record goalscorer Jennifer Hermoso should they fail to progress here. However, it is perhaps in defence where they need to tighten up, as they are currently three games without a clean sheet, which is surprising for a side who had produced 18 shutouts in 20 international contests previously!
Players to watch: Chelsea’s Pernille Harder is Denmark’s captain and top scorer, with her 69th international goal the difference in the 1-0 win over Finland. Meanwhile, Barcelona star Aitana Bonmatà is undefeated in the last 44 games in which she has netted for club and country, including Spain’s group stage win against Finland and last year’s victory against the Danes.
Hot streak: Spain have not lost back-to-back competitive games since Euro 2017, when they suffered group stage losses to England and Scotland before being knocked out on penalties by Austria in the quarter-finals.