Set to get underway on Thursday, the Women's World Cup 2023 is a tournament of firsts and Liam Flin has picked out his best outright tips for the competition.
Germany to win each-way @ 8/1
France to win each-way @ 12/1
Odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and subject to fluctuation.
Not only will this year's Women's World Cup be the first ever to be co-hosted by more than one nation, with Australia and New Zealand sharing the tournament, but it will also be the first to feature an expanded field of 32 teams.
From Vietnam to Haiti, there will be eight debutants at this month's tournament, but it is the usual big guns expected to go the distance and lift the trophy, with four-time champions the USA rated 13/5 to prevail.
With more than one million tickets sold, the Women's World Cup 2023 should not disappoint and Liam Flin has taken a look at some outright tips of interest ahead of the month-long festival of football.
What | Women's World Cup 2023 |
Where | Australia and New Zealand |
When | Thursday 20th July to Sunday 20th August 2023 |
How to watch | BBC Sport |
Odds | USA Women 13/5, England Women 9/2, Spain Women 9/2, Germany Women 8/1, France Women 12/1 |
Four years ago in France, the USA defeated the Netherlands 2-0 in Lyon in the final of the Women's World Cup, claiming their fourth title and proving once again that they are the dominant force in women's international football.
The Stars and Stripes also won the 2015 edition of the tournament in Canada and they are well-fancied to make it a hat-trick of titles when they head down under to Australia and New Zealand.
But while this USA Women's team is bursting with quality from the experienced pair of Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe to emerging talents like Sophia Smith, there are reasons to oppose them this time around.
Head coach Vlatko Andonovski is yet to really impress since taking charge of the USA, having led them to an underwhelming bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, and he has been criticised for how he has tried to embed the next generation of players into the squad.
Ultimately, though, it is the strength of opposition in Europe this year which threatens to snap the USA's trophy streak.
England are the most likely to dethrone the USA according to the odds with Sarina Wiegman's side 9/2 to lift the trophy after winning Euro 2022.
But the Euros were won on England's own patch and at the Women's World Cup this year they will be without injured trio Leah Williamson, Beth Mead and Fran Kirby, while Ellen White and Jill Scott have since retired.
The team will therefore have a different look to it in Australia and New Zealand and there are better outright tips further down in the betting.
Spain will make an appeal to many punters but their off-field issues and the fractured relationship between their players and head coach Jorge Vilda do not inspire much confidence.
Instead at 8/1, Germany are the best outright tip to win the Women's World Cup 2023.
Martina Voss-Tecklenburg's side were runners-up at Euro 2022, taking hosts England to extra time in the final at Wembley and they did that without star talent Alexandra Popp, who missed their last match.
Popp is raring to go again this time around and will be supported by an improving Lea Schuller in attack, while the midfield of Sara Dabritz, Lina Magull and Lena Oberdorf is one of the best in the competition.
Germany are the only nation other than the USA to have won the Women's World Cup on more than one occasion and both times they lifted the trophy, they were playing outside of Europe, so they could be a fine bet to triumph in Australia and New Zealand.
At an even bigger price of 12/1, France are also worth outright consideration.
France showed plenty of promise at Euro 2022 when opening with a 5-1 thrashing of Italy and they reached the competition's semi-finals.
They have since ditched controversial head coach Corinne Diacre for Herve Renard, who has plenty of international management experience behind him, and they could go well.
Marie Antoinette-Katoto's injury is not ideal but Kadidiatou Diani and Grace Geyoro are among the top players in their ranks and they could thrive with minimal expectation around them.
While the outright price offers value, punters could also consider backing France to reach the final of the Women's World Cup 2023 at 5/1.
France boast an experienced coach in Herve Renard and have minimal expectation surrounding them, which could make them dangerous opponents for any team in the competition, 12/1, especially at each-way, represents a solid bet.
Germany to win each-way @ 8/1
France to win each-way @ 12/1
Odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and subject to fluctuation.
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