The only major women’s soccer match of the day Friday comes at bettors from England, as the quarterfinals of the 2022 UEFA Women’s European Championship continue. Legal Canadian and US sportsbooks are in on the action.
To that point, PointsBet has Sweden a significant -425 favorite over Belgium on its 3-way moneyline as of 8 a.m. EDT Friday. Bettors can watch the match, starting at 3 p.m. EDT, on ESPN. For bettors considering the moneyline or other markets, there is plenty to observe about this match.
Does Belgium have any shot of pulling an upset?
This will be the first meeting between Sweden and Belgium at the Euros and the first in any competition since a 4-1 win for Sweden in October 2009. This is Belgium’s first appearance in the knockout stages at the Euros as well.
At the same time, Sweden has lost seven of its last nine knockout stage ties in the Euros. In fact, The Blue and Yellow have fallen at the quarterfinal stage in two of the last three editions of the tournament.
For those thinking that offers a bit of hope for a Belgian win or a draw, not so fast. Belgium has scored the fewest goals, made the fewest shots plus shots on target, and posted the lowest expected goals total in the group stages of the eight quarterfinalists in the 2022 Euros.
How do goal total markets look Friday?
Sweden’s eight goals in this year’s Euros are already its third-highest tally in a single edition of the tournament. Belgium has only failed to score in one of their six matches at the Euros. They’ve kept two clean sheets in those six appearances, both in their only two victories.
Belgium has scored the fewest goals, made the fewest shots plus shots on target, and posted the lowest expected goals total in the group stages of the eight quarterfinalists in the 2022 Euros.
Including penalties, Sweden has scored more goals from set pieces than any other side in the group stages of this year’s tournament. Meanwhile, two of the three goals Belgium has conceded so far have come from set-piece situations.
