England Women vs Denmark Women – Match preview, live stream, kick-off time, prediction, team news, lineups
England will be looking to have a much more dominant game – with more clinical action in front of goal. The Lionesses only narrowly beat Haiti during their opening match and will face their toughest group opponent Denmark on Friday.
Denmark also won their opening match – beating China 1-0. With both teams having only narrow victories, setting the tone and winning this match will be the aim for both teams.
Group D: England vs Denmark (09:30, Sydney) – BBC
Match preview
England World Cup campaign
England faced a tougher challenge than expected in their tournament opener against Haiti, a team ranked 49 places below the Lionesses.
Georgia Stanway scored the opening goal with a retaken penalty after the initial shot was saved due to the goalkeeper being off her line.
Although England couldn’t add more goals, they held on for a narrow 1-0 victory to kickstart their campaign.
With a winning start, England can secure a spot in the last 16 with one game remaining, depending on the result between Haiti and China.
Having lost just one of their 33 games under Sarina Wiegman, the Lionesses approach Friday’s match with confidence in securing a positive result.
And England should be positive. Many questioned their performance against Haiti, but much of it can be chalked up to first-game nerves. The Lionesses created plenty of chances in the Haiti game but just couldn’t seem to find the back of the net. But they still walk away with a win and a clean sheet, and now must focus on getting more clinical in front of goal and keep their defence strong.
Denmark World Cup campaign
Denmark, back in the World Cup after 2007, kickstarted their campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over China.
In their tournament opener, a goalless draw seemed likely until substitute Amalie Vangsgaard scored in the 90th minute, securing all three points. Notably, the Danes have won six of their last seven international matches, keeping clean sheets in five of them.
Although they previously failed to progress from the group stage in their last two World Cup appearances, Denmark can secure a spot in the knockout rounds with a win, depending on China’s result against Haiti.
Motivated to make history, Denmark aims to achieve two wins at a single World Cup finals for the first time.
Team News
England would have been relieved to see Millie Bright play the full 90 minutes in her first competitive game since April after recovering from a knee injury.
With Wiegmann expected to name an unchanged lineup, Bright will feature in a back four alongside Jess Carter, Lucy Bronze and Alex Greenwood.
England would have been relieved to see Millie Bright play the full 90 minutes in her first competitive game since April after recovering from a knee injury.
With Wiegmann expected to name an unchanged lineup, Bright will feature in a back four alongside Jess Carter, Lucy Bronze and Alex Greenwood.
Alessia Russo is set to lead the line for the European champions, and she will be joined in a front three by Chloe Kelly and Lauren Hemp.
As for Denmark, Vangsgaard may have to settle for a place among the substitutes despite coming off the bench to score her first international goal in the 1-0 win over China.
Like their opponents, Denmark boss Lars Sondergaard could also opt for consistency and name an unchanged side for Friday’s contest.
Stine Ballisager will feature in central defence alongside Simone Boye, and the pair will be hoping to help their country claim consecutive clean sheets.
England Women possible starting lineup:
Earps; Bronze, Bright, Carter, Greenwood; Walsh, Stanway, Toone; Kelly, Hemp, Russo
Denmark Women possible starting lineup:
Christensen; Sevecke, Ballisager, Boye, Veje; Hasbo, Holmgaard, Kuhl; Thomsen, Sorensen, Harder
WTX Sport predicts England 2-0 Denmark
While both countries will be gunning for back-to-back victories, England have that extra quality and now will nerves settle, the Lionesses should be ready to put on a dominant performance and control the game.
