Women’s World Cup: Spain And Netherlands Are Both Contenders

Spain vs Netherlands

All eyes will be on the Sky Stadium in Wellington on Thursday for one of the most anticipated ties of the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

Jorge Vilda’s Spain meet Andries Jonker’s Netherlands in the quarter-finals and both teams have realistic aspirations of winning the tournament. Following the exits of USA and Germany, the latest Women’s World Cup 2023 betting odds make Spain the second favourites, behind England, at a price of 4.00, while Netherlands can be backed at odds of 12.00.

La Roja are favourites at a SBOTOP price of 1.48 to advance to the semi-finals with the Netherlands at 2.47, so while free-scoring Spain should make it through, this game promises to be anything other than a walkover.    

Talking Points

Route to the Last Eight

Spain reached the quarter finals with a 5-1 drubbing of Switzerland and their Women’s World Cup 2023 results have been pretty impressive throughout. They opened up the tournament with a convincing 3-0 win over Costa Rica, even though Barcelona midfielder Patri Guijarro was one of a handful of players who refused to play due to a dispute with their federation. The players who did show up put on a masterclass and blew the Costa Ricans away with three goals in eight minutes in an explosive first half.   

The world class Alexia Putellas was on show in the next game, making a sublime assist as Spain hammered Zambia 5-0 and La Roja cruised into the knockout phase. They rested players and lost their last group game, 4-0 to Japan, and crucially picked up no injuries while Olga Carmona was substituted at half time having picked up a yellow card.

La Roja were back on song in the Round of 16 as Aitana Bonmati helped herself to a brace in the 5-1 defeat of Switzerland. Vilda’s side were the first to reach the last eight with a resounding performance and they will have no fears when they meet the Oranje on Thursday.    

The Netherlands were surprised to meet South Africa in the Round of 16 but they put in a professional performance to win 2-0 and set up a quarter final date with Spain. And the 2019 World Cup finalists were typically efficient during their group games. A Stefanie van der Gragt goal in the 13^th minute was enough to beat Portugal in their opener, a game billed as a battle for second spot in Group E. Most neutrals expected the USA to coast this group, not to mention the USA players themselves, but that all changed in the second match as Jill Roord put the Oranje ahead against the Stars and Stripes before Lindsey Horan levelled in the second half. Then Roord scored two more as the Netherlands cut loose to wipe Vietnam away with a 7-0 mauling and that was enough for Jonker’s team to top the group.

They had some anxious moments during their Round of 16 win over South Africa but the Netherlands came through and now the boss says they believe they can beat anybody; starting with Spain. They will be without influential midfielder Danielle van de Donk, who picked up a second yellow card against South Africa and she was inconsolable at the final whistle. Jonker insists his team will fight to ensure that was not Van de Donk’s final game of the tournament. 

Manchester City record signing Roord was on target again, heading home her fourth goal of the competition, and she will be a key player for the Oranje on Thursday.          

History

The Netherlands have enjoyed recent success with a 2017 European Championship crown followed by a 2019 World Cup final appearance, while Spain’s closest encounter was a semi-final appearance at the 1997 World Cup and they will see this tournament as a superb chance to go at least one better.      

Spain have won all three of their meetings with the Netherlands, scoring five unanswered goals, and the most recent encounter, in 2021, ended in a 1-0 victory for La Roja. 

In terms of recent form, both teams are in superb shape with five wins from six, the Netherlands drawing their other against the USA while a resting Spain lost their game against Japan.  

Betting tip

There is little to choose between these two nations in the FIFA Word Rankings with Spain currently sixth and the Netherlands ninth. And Spain have the edge in the SBOTOP odds at a price at 1.83 to win while the Netherlands can be backed at 3.15 to win or 3.26 to draw.  

And for a correct score-line, 2-1 to Spain to win at odds of 7.14 wont be far from the mark.

 

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