Women's Euro 2022: England can continue goalfest against Northern Ireland

England are safely through to the quarter-finals of Euro 2022 but they will still want to end the group stage on a high when they take on Northern Ireland on Friday night.

Expect another big win

England got the job done against Austria on matchday one, but they did not exactly set the world alight in their 1-0 victory. Their next game against Norway was expected to be a tougher test, with Ada Hegerberg and Caroline Graham Hansen tipped to cause the England defence problems. Instead, the Lionesses blew their opponents away in an 8-0 win.

It was a stunning triumph and one which saw England through to the quarter-finals in style. Sarina Wiegman will want her side to keep the momentum going when they conclude the group phase against Northern Ireland on Friday.

Wiegman could use this opportunity to rotate her starting XI, and any incoming players will be determined to make an impression ahead of the knockout rounds. Alternatively, she could pick her strongest side and try to wrap up the win as quickly as possible.

Either way we can expect England, who scored six goals in the opening 45 minutes against Norway, to come flying out of the traps. In that light, over 2.5 goals in the first half looks like incredibly good value at 3.2.

After hitting eight goals against Norway, England will fancy their chances of reaching the Women's Euro 2022 final at Wembley

Northern Ireland out to avoid embarrassment

For Northern Ireland, this is likely to be a case of damage limitation. Kenny Shiels' side did not disgrace themselves in either the 4-1 loss to Norway or the 2-0 defeat by Austria, but a meeting with the host nation poses a risk that they could be on the wrong end of a drubbing.

Shiels admitted after the reverse against Austria that his team are not yet ready to compete with the strongest sides in the women’s game. Yet although Northern Ireland’s participation at Euro 2022 will end here, this has been a valuable experience for them.

Even so, it is difficult to see how they will be able to keep the score down, even if Shiels reverts to a defence-minded 5-3-1-1 formation. Over 4.5 goals looks appealing at 2.28.

One-sided encounter

England showed no mercy against Norway, racking up the goals and continuing to look for more. Now that their place in the quarter-finals is secure, the Lionesses might go slightly easier on Northern Ireland. 

But even England’s second string is capable of inflicting a heavy defeat on the tournament debutants, which makes it hard to see anything other than a one-sided encounter at St Mary’s.

A four-goal victory feels like it would be par for the course for England, who are priced by our traders at 1.99 to triumph by at least that margin.

Recommended bets

Over 2.5 first half @ 3.2

Over 4.5 @ 2.28

England -3.5 handicap @ 1.99