Euros for 2022 are underway and there is no beating around the bush about which national team legal Canadian and US sportsbooks like for Thursday’s match. An upset by the underdog Thursday would be a massive win for any bettor brave enough to stake it.
Still, there are opportunities for bettors to perhaps make some money on this match being more competitive than the books believe it will be. Even the safer bets on this match require some faith in the underdog, though.
Breaking down Norway v. Northern Ireland
Norway, probably one of the dark horses for this Euros, keeps up the action in the 2022 Euros’ Group A moving with their match against Northern Ireland. Norway and Northern Ireland met in qualifying for this year’s Women’s Euro 2022, with the Norwegians winning 6-0 both home and away.
That’s a big part of the reason why BetMGM has the Norwegians a -2000 favorite on its 3-way moneyline. The match begins at 2 p.m. EDT and people in the United States can watch on ESPN or TUDN. In Canada, bettors can stream the matches on UEFA.tv.
Norway accounted for 71% of the goals Northern Ireland conceded in the group stage (12/17). Northern Ireland has lost their last five matches against Norway in all competitions, scoring one goal while conceding 21.
Their last win over the Norwegians came back in November 2011 in a European Championship qualifier, a 3-1 victory at Mourneview Park with goals from Kirsty McGuinness, Ashley Hutton, and Rachel Furness.
Norway’s history in the Euros
Norway topped their UEFA Women’s European Championship qualifying group without dropping a single point, winning all six tests. Only France conceded fewer goals than they did during the group stages of qualifying.
Norway has reached six UEFA Women’s European Championship finals, most recently in 2013. Only the Germans have played in more finals in the competition.
Norway won their first match in six of their first seven UEFA Women’s European Championship tournaments but haven’t won their opening match at any of their last four.
In just six qualifying matches for the UEFA Women’s Euros, Norway’s Caroline Graham Hansen was directly involved in 17 goals (10 goals, 7 assists), including eight in one game against the Faroe Islands. She was directly involved in a goal every 31 minutes on average.
