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Women's Super League

England v Austria Women's Euro 2022 predictions: Goals to flow in curtain-raiser

Lionesses to deliver statement win at Old Trafford

England can start Women's Euro 2022 with a bang
England can start Women's Euro 2022 with a bangCredit: Lynne Cameron - The FA

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for England v Austria in the Women's Euro 2022 at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Where to watch

BBC One, 8pm Wednesday

Best bet

England to win & over 3.5 goals
1pts 11-8 general

Team news

England
Star right-back Lucy Bronze is set to return after missing the Lionesses' final pre-tournament friendly against Switzerland. Sarina Wiegman has a fully-fit squad to choose from.

Austria
Austria have reported no new injuries. Hoffenheim star Nicole Billa is set to lead the line.

Predicted lineups

England (4-2-3-1): Earps; Bronze, Bright, Greenwood, Daly; Williamson, Walsh; Mead, Kirby, Hemp; White.

Austria (4-1-4-1): Zinsberger; Hanshaw, Schnaderbeck, Georgieva, Wienroither; Puntigam; Makas, Feiersinger, Zadrazil, Kolb; Billa

Match preview

With home advantage, a star-studded squad and an experienced manager, everything is in place for England to go the distance at this summer's Women's European Championship.

More than 70,000 fans are expected at Old Trafford on Wednesday as the Lionesses open the tournament against Austria and the sell-out crowd should be treated to an entertaining contest.

Under the guidance of new boss Sarina Wiegman, who led the Netherlands to Euros glory in 2017, England have won 12 and drawn two of their last 14 matches in all competitions.

As Euro 2022 hosts they did not have to qualify for the tournament but they have been relentless in their recent World Cup qualifying campaign, winning all eight of their matches, scoring 68 goals and conceding none.

And they carried that dominance into pre-tournament friendlies against Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland, winning those three matches by a 12-1 aggregate scoreline.

As far as team selection goes, those warm-ups may have provided Wiegman with more questions than answers with the likes of Ella Toone and Alessia Russo among those staking a claim for a starting berth.

But that only emphasises the depth of England's squad, which is arguably the strongest in the tournament.

And it is in attack where the Lionesses look most dangerous with their record goalscorer Ellen White expected to be flanked by Women's Super League stars Beth Mead and Lauren Hemp.

Austria, meanwhile, impressed at the last Women's European Championship five years ago, reaching the semi-finals in their debut tournament, and the feeling in the country is that their current side is even better.

England should therefore not expect a straightforward opening assignment but it doesn't mean that Wednesday's curtain-raiser will be short of goals.

Austria have found the net in each of their last eight contests, while three of their last five matches have featured at least four goals.

The main criticism directed towards the Lionesses in the last few weeks has been the slow starts they have made but they have nonetheless scored at least four times in five of their last six outings.

And in front of an expectant Old Trafford crowd, the tournament hosts can make a statement of their title intent by winning a match featuring over 3.5 goals.

Key stat

Five of England's last six matches have featured over 3.5 goals.


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