France Women v USA Women
Women’s World Cup – 8.00 pm
BBC
This is the heavyweight showdown of the Women’s World Cup 2019. It is a big enough game to have been the final itself. But that never looked likely to be the case as both were favourites to win their respective groups which was always going to set up this quarter-final showdown. So who wins this epic duel? It is the USA, the reigning World Champions, who are the 6/5 favourites at leading bookmakers. How many punters will jump on that as one of the best bets of the day?
They were scoring for fun in the group stage, rattling off 18 unanswered goals in their three straight wins over Thailand, Chile and Sweden. But in their toughest game against Sweden, their opponents sent out an under-strength side so it wasn’t a real contest. It is notable that their star forward Alex Morgan has gone really quiet since their first game. Spain showed up well against the Americans in the round of sixteen. The USA had a really testing time against the Spaniards who were set up so tactically well to frustrate them. The USA got a 2-1 win, both goals coming from Megan Rapinoe penalty kicks.
France had a tough round of sixteen tie against Brazil, which they needed extra time to get through. There have been moments of real power in the tournament from France. They have looked explosively brilliant at times, but at others have had to show their grit. France realistically looks the only team left in the tournament who can match up to the physicality and speed of the USA. The only ones who can match them for pace and power. They have such a strong core through Wendie Renard, Amandine Henry and Eugenie Le Sommer. With the home support behind them, can the 9/4 underdogs eliminate the reigning champions?
Taylor Fritz v Kyle Edmund
ATP Eastbourne Tennis – 4.00 pm
BBC
British number one Kyle Edmund is through to the semi-finals of Eastbourne. That’s great news for the home support heading to Wimbledon next week. It raises the hope that the former Austrian Open semi-finalist can make something of a splash at SW19 in the upcoming Grand Slam. Edmund hasn’t been in the greatest of form this season to be fair, but with this run to the semi-final ( having beaten two fellow countryman in Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans), he could be peaking on the grass at the right time.
Kyle Edmund is the 4/6 favourite to win this match with leading bookmakers. This will be the first meeting between Edmund and young American Taylor Fritz. Edmund is ranked 31st in the world with Fritz at 42nd. Fritz was carrying a W13 L16 record for the season heading into Eastbourne. He did participate on grass at Halle recently but lost to Roberto Bautista Agut, scoring a big fat doughnut in the second set of that first round tie. Fritz has dropped just one set on his way to the semifinals of Eastbourne but is the 6/5 underdog against the big-serving Edmund.
Venezuela v Argentina
Copa America – 8.00 pm
Premier Sports
This is going to be a fascinating showdown in the quarterfinals of the Copa America. That is because Argentina need a bit of a reboot really after some struggles through the group stage of the competition. They were rocked onto their back foot in their opening game as they couldn’t break down Colombia. Colombia then pounced with two late goals to sink the Albiceleste. That was at least Argentina’s easiest game out of the way. But in their second group stage fixture, Argentina struggled as well.
They had to fight back from being a goal down against Paraguay, Argentina getting their response from a Lionel Messi spot kick. But then they had a lucky escape as Paraguay failed to convert a penalty of their own following that. They then delivered a bit of a nervy 2-0 win over Qatar to get themselves a place in the quarterfinals. Argentina have made it to the final of the last two Copa Americas but lost them both on a penalty shootout against Chile.
Venezuela did a good job in their group stage campaign. It looked as if they were happy to battle through their first couple of games, tougher fixtures against Peru and Brazil and then take their chances against the outsiders Bolivia. Venezuela played out a 0-0 draw against Peru before claiming a point with the same scoreline against Brazil. They then burst into life to post a 3-1 win over Bolivia to take second place in the group behind the Brazilians. Venezuela are actually in decent form having only lost one of their last eleven fixtures. Back in March, they beat Argentina 3-1 in a friendly. They are 5/1 with leading bookmakers to knock them out of the Copa America 2019.
