Following a month of exhilarating soccer action in Australia and New Zealand, it’s almost time to say goodbye to the 2023 FIFA World Cup, but not before we make our women’s final picks.
Spain and England will battle it out for the trophy in Sydney on Sunday, August 20. We also have the third-place playoff to look forward to on Saturday, with Sweden and Australia competing for the bronze medal.
Not only will I be sharing my women’s final picks with you, but I will also provide useful betting advice for the third-place playoff. Before we go any further, though, let’s look back at the tournament so far.
What’s Happened in the Tournament So Far?
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup wasted no time in serving up surprises. High-profile teams like Germany, Canada and Brazil failed to make it past the group stage, while less-favored nations such as Jamaica and Morocco advanced to the knockout phase.
In keeping with the early theme of the tournament, the round of 16 produced more shock results. After winning back-to-back World Cups, the United States suffered elimination against Sweden before the Netherlands, Japan and France fell in the quarter-finals.
The semi-finals proved to be a step too far for the Aussies, who were beaten 3-1 by England. In the other semi-final, Spain claimed a dramatic 2-1 victory over Sweden, setting up an exciting final showdown with the Lionesses.
Following the thrills and spills of an unforgettable World Cup, it’s time for me to share my women’s final picks. As promised, I will share my women’s final picks for both the showpiece match and the third-place playoff.
There's plenty for these @Lionesses to roar about! 🦁#BeyondGreatness | #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/vr1bOApITn
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) August 18, 2023
2023 World Cup – Women’s Final Picks and Predictions
The penultimate match of the tournament goes down in Brisbane on Saturday, August 19. Australia will be eager to sign off in style, but Sweden will be hopeful of spoiling the party at Suncorp Stadium.
On Sunday, it’s the small matter of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final. The bookies make Spain the slight favorite at -125 to lift the trophy, but England is priced at -105 to secure the silverware, highlighting the fine margins.
Anyway, let’s dive into my women’s final picks and predictions. Please note that kick-off times are in Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST), which is 14 hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET) in the US.
Sweden vs. Australia Prediction
- Date: Saturday, August 19, 2023
- Kick-Off: 18:00 (AEST)
- Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia
- Odds: Sweden (+142); Draw (+235); Australia (+170)
It’s fair to say that Sweden and Australia have both enjoyed a strong tournament. While the Swedes chalked up a five-game unbeaten streak before falling to Spain in the semi-finals, the Matildas captured the heart of a nation before losing to England.
Sweden defeated South Africa (2-1), Italy (5-0) and Argentina (2-0) during the group stage, finishing five points clear at the summit of Group G as a result. In the last 16, the Blues and Yellow defied the odds to dump the United States out of the tournament.
The Swedes also claimed a hugely impressive 2-1 victory over Japan in the quarter-finals, although they failed to get past Spain in the last four.
Meanwhile, Australia took six points from a possible nine in Group B, defeating Ireland (1-0) and Canada (4-0) while losing to Nigeria (2-3). The host nation then beat Denmark 2-0 in the round of 16 before securing a wild 7-6 penalty shootout triumph over France.
Despite giving a good account of themselves in the semi-finals, the Aussies were unable to prevent a 3-1 loss against England. Still, they can be proud of their achievements on home soil.
In my eyes, the over 2.5 goals wager is the best bet for Sweden vs. Australia. Four of Sweden’s six matches have produced over 2.5 goals Down Under, while three of Australia’s games have dished up over 3.5 goals.
Best Bet: Over 2.5 Goals (-120)
Spain vs. England Prediction
- Date: Sunday, August 20, 2023
- Kick-Off: 20:00 (AEST)
- Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney, Australia
- Odds: Spain (+160); Draw (+200); England (+175)
I’ve thought long and hard about my women’s final picks, and let me tell you – choosing between Spain and England is NOT easy.
Spain’s star-studded roster contains world-class stars like Alexia Putellas, Jennifer Hermoso and Aitana Bonmati. The Spaniards crushed Zambia (5-0) and Costa Rica (3-0) during the group stage, but they also suffered a humbling 4-0 thrashing at the hands of the Japanese.
On the flip side, England’s stacked squad features WSL superstars such as Alessio Russo, Lauren James and Lauren Hemp, in addition to Bayern Munich’s Georgia Stanway and Barcelona’s Kiera Walsh and Lucy Bronze.
The Lionesses kicked off their World Cup campaign with victories over Haiti (1-0), Denmark (1-0) and China (6-1) during the group stage. After edging past Nigeria on penalties in the last 16, they knocked out Colombia and Australia to reach the final.
Although Spain heads into the showpiece as the marginal favorite, it is worth remembering that England dispatched Spain en route to securing European Championship glory last summer. Plus, Sarina Wiegman has lost just one of her 38 matches in charge of the Lionesses.
If you want to access the full range of my World Cup women’s final picks, you will need to create an account with Sports Hub and sign in.
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A strike so good you might have missed the detail! 🚀@Globant goes behind the play to show you the intricacies of @7OlgaCarmona's #FIFAWWC Semi-Final winner! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/PPlUraxbvV
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) August 18, 2023
It’s Time to Place Your Women’s Final Picks
I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for the last two matches of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Of course, Sunday’s final is the main event, but the third-place playoff promises to deliver more top-quality action.
Now that you’ve seen my women’s final picks and predictions, it’s time to lock in your wagers for the last two games of the tournament.
The Women’s World Cup is almost over, but there is no shortage of soccer betting opportunities on the horizon. With Major League Soccer, Premier League and other top European leagues in action, be sure to stay tuned for more soccer picks.