Weekend tips: Blockbuster Euros group game and Spain still dangerous | OneFootball

The European Women’s Championship has kicked off with a bang in England this week, with several star names in action.

Spain still a serious threat

Spain’s optimistic preparations for the tournament were dealt a cruel blow with injuries ruling two of their key names, Jenni Hermoso and Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, out of the tournament.

The Putellas injury in particular was a devastating one, the captain rupturing her ACL in training earlier this week.

But even without that devastating duo, La Roja remain a side packed with talent all over the park, particularly in the final third.

Esther González and Mariona Caldentey are set to be charged with leading the line, while Clàudia Pina is one of the most exciting young talents on show at the tournament.

In their opener on Friday night, they face a Finland side with just one win in their last nine and who lost both of their tournament warm-up fixtures.

Spain will likely be extra motivated by the Putellas heartbreak and seem well placed to get among the goals in Milton Keynes.

They are available to net over 2.5 goals at 1.40, while a Spain win without conceding is priced at 1.5.

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Dark horses get started

Not a great deal of pre-tournament talk has focused on Germany but as record eight-time winners in the past, they can never be discounted.

With the likes of Sara Däbritz, Lena Oberdorf, Alexandra Popp and Lea Schüller in their ranks, this is a side capable of causing problems for anyone – particularly in the knockout stages.

But in a tough group alongside Spain, Finland and Friday’s opponents Denmark, who were runners-up last time out, getting there is far from a foregone conclusion.

Much may hinge on their opener against the Danes, who seem to have benefited more than most by the tournament’s delay by a year as some exciting youngsters are coming to the fore to assist big names like Pernille Harder.

They are more than capable and are available at odds of 4.00 to cause an opening week surprise and take a point against Germany, who are priced at a favourable 1.7 for the win themselves.

Match of the group stage

Arguably the most exciting game of the group phase takes place on Saturday night in Sheffield as reigning champions the Netherlands take on Sweden, who are among the favourites to take their crown.

The Dutch are packed with talent, from top goalscorer Vivianne Miedema in attack to the experienced Sari van Veenendaal between the posts and so many more in between.

However, the great question mark which will soon be answered is how the star-studded side, who were also silver medallists at the last World Cup, will perform under Mark Parsons who stepped into the intimidating shoes of Sarina Wiegman after her exit to take over England.

They could scarcely have asked for a bigger baptism of fire from their first fixture, which sees them square off against the Swedes, an exciting unit who rely more on their collective brilliance than individuals, although there are plenty of those who impress.

That is perhaps best evidence by their World Cup qualification record which saw them net 40 goals and defenders contributed to a quarter of those. They really can hurt anyone from anywhere.

Over 2.5 goals at 2.25 seems enticing given the attacking quality from both sides and if you cannot separate them, the draw is available at odds of 3.2.