2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Predictions: How Far Can the Football Ferns Go?
Less than one year after their women’s rugby team won the World Cup on home soil with an undefeated campaign, New Zealand’s Football Ferns will take centre stage hoping that some large crowds across Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin can spur them to achieve their best Women’s World Cup (WWC) result to date.
New Zealand made the bold call in 2021 of appointing then 47-year-old former assistant coach Jitka Klimková on an astonishing six-year contract that includes two World Cups.
Whilst the results so far have been underwhelming, Klimková is promising a positive intent and tactical setup at this WWC that will drive the sport forward in the country, irrespective of the final results.
We’ve scanned soccer betting sites across the country and picked our three best Group A predictions for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup ahead of what promises to be an exciting tournament.
History To Be Made At Home?
The Football Ferns are sadly coming into a home event in some of their worst ever form and without a single WWC to their name in their entire history.
Home ground advantage has been factored in by betting markets that have them level with Switzerland as equal-second favourites for Group A behind Norway, but there’s no escaping the worrisome fact they’ve picked up three draws and 12 losses in their WWC history.
New Zealand have dropped to their lowest ever FIFA ranking of 22 following three losses from three games at the Tokyo Olympics and nine losses from 12 friendlies since the start of October 2022, and between those came a winless 2022 SheBelieves Cup and a 2-0 loss against group rivals Norway.
Furthermore, they’ve been plagued by long-term injuries to key players throughout the year such as CJ Bott, Olivia Chance, Betsy Hassett and Tottenham’s Ria Percival, some of whom were still in rehab as late as last month.
Having also failed to find the back of the net in eight of 10 matches in 2023, it’s hard to envisage the Football Ferns scoring enough goals to get out of the group, even with home crowds behind them.
Tip: New Zealand NOT to Progress from Group A - 1.80 With Bet365
All The (Nor)Way to the Final Eight?
The Norwegians have been handed by far the easiest group of the tournament according to betting apps, owing to co-hosts New Zealand being in Pot 1 of the draw despite their number 22 seeding.
That means that Norway are avoiding all nations ranked higher than Switzerland (20) in the group stage, whilst Switzerland themselves and New Zealand have some dreadful lead-in form.
Consequently, Norway has a fantastic opportunity to get some goals under their collective belt ahead of the knockout stage.
The 1995 WWC champions won their qualifying group with a near-perfect nine wins from 10 matches and have punched above their weight more recently, defeating the Netherlands whilst securing draws against top-five nations England, France and Sweden.
Many of those positive results were without Lyon striker Ada Hegerberg, the first female winner of the Ballon d’Or trophy. Hegerberg finished the club season in imperious form, amassing six goals in seven club appearances since returning from injury.
Should it all go to plan and they win Group A, their Round of 16 tie will be against the runners-up of Group C, who will most likely be Japan - a side they should fancy their chances against at their best.
Tip: Norway to Reach the Quarter-Finals - 2.38 with Betvictor
Switzerland To Break Kiwi Hearts?
If the Football Ferns fail to win a single WWC finals game for a sixth time running, it almost goes without saying that Switzerland will reach the Round of 16 for just the second time in their history.
Punters can effectively double up by using Bet365's “To Qualify” markets to back sides to either get out of their group or fall short, and this is the shorter priced of the two options available at just 1.7.
The Swiss have never finished higher than third at the group stage of a European or World Championship and, without the fortune of having been drawn against the weakest Pot 1 nation (New Zealand), would probably be outsiders to do so this time around.
Manager Inka Grings reportedly puts the players through some tough training sessions and knows what it takes to win a major event as a dual Euros winner during her playing days.
They needed extra time in a playoff match against Wales to reach these finals after finishing two points behind Italy in qualifying, and whilst they have failed to win a match since then, their five draws from seven games includes three 0-0 stalemates that is at least encouraging from a defensive perspective.
Their chances were boosted significantly on Monday when inspirational captain Lia Wälti trained well in Dunedin after an ugly injury when playing for Arsenal in May that at the time seemed to have ruined her WWC chances.
They should be far too good for group minnows Philippines in their opening game, and if Wälti is fit to play the crucial game against New Zealand, they’ve shown enough to be a threat to get as far as the quarter-finals.
Tip: Switzerland to Progress from Group A - 1.70 With Bet365
