The FIFA Girls’s World Cup 2023 has already offered its justifiable share of thrills and spills.
The continued Sam Kerr damage story has been a theme all through; with the likes of Jamaica, Colombia and South Africa inflicting a splash by reaching the final 16.
The large shock has seen Brazil and Germany crash out – not least the latter, after a 6-0 thumping of Morocco, who advance.
So what do the knockout levels have in retailer for us?
Can Australia go all the best way on residence turf? Can the USA buck up their concepts and seal the three-peat? Or can Sarina Wiegman information England to glory?
BestofBets previews the final 16…
Group stage abstract
Some heavyweight big-hitters of the ladies’s recreation critically underwhelmed within the group levels. However you marvel in the event that they had been merely getting revved up for the intense enterprise forward.
Norway have been in digital disarray ever since touching down in Australia and New Zealand.
They had been deservedly crushed by the Soccer Ferns within the event’s opening match, solely pulling issues out of the bag with a 6-0 destruction of the Philippines of their last recreation, to squeeze via.
Don’t write them off, although. If Ada Hegeberg returns from damage, they could be a power. Caroline Graham Hansen and Guro Reiten are hitting kind on the proper time too.
USA’s struggles
The USA are one other facet who’ve been puzzlingly under par – up to now.
Their very own legend, two-time World Cup winner Carli Lloyd, has led the criticism of the USWNT, dubbing them “too predictable” and that has gone down like a lead balloon within the camp.
However all that issues is the States bought via with 5 factors, albeit the 2 attracts have prompted many to alter their pre-tournament predictions.
Profitable a third-straight World Cup seems unlikely.
Spherical of 1️⃣6️⃣ 🔜 pic.twitter.com/IoeeknDgLX
— U.S. Girls’s Nationwide Soccer Group (@USWNT) August 2, 2023
England additionally underwhelmed of their opening two matches, edging previous each Denmark and Haiti 1-0, coming perilously near drawing each video games by conceding late probabilities.
A change of formation and the rampant type of Lauren James, nonetheless, have shifted the temper for the Lionesses. Their 6-1 defeat of China to shut the group stage marketing campaign was a critical morale-booster.
But the principle winners from an thrilling group stage had been Sweden and Japan.
Neither had been fancied an excessive amount of going into the event, however each enter the final 16 with excellent data up to now – England are the one different facet to try this.
Amanda Ilestedt is offering the objectives for the Swedes, whereas Japan’s Hinata Miyazawa is the early Golden Boot pace-setter.
Newest Girls’s World Cup betting odds
It’s no shock that Miyazawa is the favorite now to seize the Golden Boot, at 7/2, forward England star James who’s 4/1 to be the highest scorer on the event.
As for the outright event, america have slipped from their pre-tournament place atop the favourites record.
They’re now out at 9/2 – joint second favourites with Spain – with England put in at 7/2 going into the knockout levels.
With two-time winners Germany now out, the worth bets are Japan at 8/1 and both the Netherlands or France who’re each 11/1.
They might all get fairly beneficial routes to the ultimate.
Les Bleues, specifically, are an excellent shot after ending their group stage marketing campaign with a classy 6-3 win over Panama.
