USA vs Netherlands
It’s been a month of dramatic action and a wonderful showcase for women’s football.
Even those who question the standard of some of the matches in the Women’s World Cup – and there are those who do – as well as the attendances in some cases, cannot argue it’s been anything other than a great success.
SBOBET fans can wait for another day for the debate about the future of the game and players’ salaries. For now, there is no doubt there have been Women’s World Cup highlights galore and the best could be yet to come.
Talking Points
The final in the Stade de Lyon arrives as FIFA president Gianni Infantino says the game’s governing body is to increase its investment in the women’s game to $1bn over the next four-year cycle.
He has also spoken of wanting to create an international women’s league, with promotion and relegation, to help the World Cup qualification process.
It’s clear that the holders and favourites to retain their status as world number one are the act to follow.
The USA is not only the most successful team, having won the World Cup three times and four Olympic gold medals. The Stars and Stripes have also maintained a pipeline of talent via a federal law that forces universities to spend as much on women’s sport as on men’s.
The result is that while defeated semi-finalists England, for example, has 120,000 female players registered, in the US the figure is 1.6m. Focus on grassroots is clear.
After beginning with a blitz against minnows Thailand, there’s no real surprise the final comprises the World champions against the European Champions, the Netherlands.
The US is making a third straight appearance in the World Cup Final, while this is a first for Holland.
The Dutch though are not here by default.
In 2007, the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) launched a women’s professional league, the Eredivisie Vrouwen, which has seen several iterations and now sends its winner to the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
Several members of the Dutch national team now play for teams in the English WSL, the German Bundesliga and the Spanish Primera Division, and in May, semi-final match winner Jackie Groenen became the first international signing for Manchester United of the WSL.
All of that means access to higher-quality facilities, better training and year-round competition, as well as salaries that allow them to train full time.
They have certainly not been lacking in support in France either.
The “Orange Army” has been as newsworthy as the squad with, in every city where Holland plays, a double-decker bus pulling into town and bringing with it a rowdy bright-orange celebration. Supporters of the Orange Lionesses meet in city squares to drink and sing and dance in unison.
It all could have gone so differently. Rewind to their opener against minnows New Zealand and a chance to lift the World Cup seemed very distant. They looked toothless against the Football Ferns in Le Havre, struggling to penetrate an organised defensive unit.
When the clock ticked past the 90th minute, it appeared the pre-tournament hype around the Netherlands was misconceived. Suddenly, with 120 seconds of stoppage time remaining, the substitute Jill Roord headed home from close range.
That set them on this path and the rest is history.
The conventional wisdom is that the United States will triumph. They have a belief – some say an arrogance – which is paying dividends.
Indeed, victory on Sunday would give them greater momentum in their case against U.S. Soccer, for gender discrimination, alleging the organisation doesn’t pay them their worth and offers only “lip service” to equality. (U.S. Soccer has denied such claims: the case is headed to mediation).
That is one for the courts to decide.
One thing that doesn’t require mediation is to acknowledge the success of the 2019 Women’s World Cup.
Now for its ultimate showpiece.
History
America have won their last three meetings, each by the same scoreline of 2-1, suggesting a close encounter is likely.
Betting Tip
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USA vs Netherlands | Total Goal 4-6 @ 3.15 |
| July 07, 23:00 (GMT+8) |
Women’s World Cup betting odds suggest Holland will have to produce a flawless performance and the US will need to suffer an unprecedented crisis of confidence if there is to be a new name on the trophy.
The USA is offered 1X2 @ 1.44, Holland @ 5.20 and the draw @ 4.30 – obviously there must be a winner on the day, whether via extra-time or penalties if level after 90 minutes.
Asian Handicap bets worth assessing include USA -1.25 @ 2.08 and Holland + 0.75 @ 2.42.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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