- Spain v Sweden
- Tuesday August 15 2023, 03:00 EST
- At Eden Park, Auckland
Sweden is rated as the underdog in its World Cup semi-final, but this experienced team looks like a good pick to beat Spain and make the final.
Who do Bettors Favor?
According to the top betting sites (and you can check out our top sportsbook reviews here) Spain is the big favorite for victory in the first World Cup semi-final this week. The team is priced at around at +108 chance to overcome Sweden, while the draw is available at +224 and Sweden is the underdog at +285. In the other semi-final, England is around the +130 mark, with the draw priced at +220 and Australia the +240 underdog.
| Spain v Sweden |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | +108 | +116 | +116 |
| Draw | +224 | +230 | +220 |
| Sweden | +285 | +250 | +240 |
OSB World Cup Semi-Finals Betting Briefing
The large time difference between Australia, New Zealand, and the US is the first thing to be aware of with regard to these games. The first semi-final is held on August 15 at 20:00 New Zealand time, which is 3:00 EST, and the second semi-final—held a day later in Sydney— kicks off at the slightly later time of 05:00 time.
We also know that the World Cup trophy this year will have a new name engraved upon it. Only Sweden, out of the four remaining finalists, has ever played in a World Cup final, falling to Germany in that match under the Golden Goal rule, which is no longer applied in knockout games.
Spain v Sweden, 2023-08-15
Spain, which has produced some excellent performances in the tournament thus far, is the clear favorite going into this match. It dominated Switzerland 5-1 in the Round of 16 after scoring eight goals against Zambia and Costa Rica in the Group Stage before eking out an extra-time victory against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals.
Yet despite the quality of the Spanish team, it has occasionally displayed weakness, most notably in its final Group match when it was defeated 4-0 by Japan, which left it in second place.
The team will play in its first-ever major semifinal against one of the competition's most seasoned teams, and that weakness could be a concern. Sweden has advanced to four semi-finals in its history, as well as the semi-finals of both the 2021 Olympics and the 2022 European Championships, so this team will not be intimidated by the occasion.
Sweden easily advanced from its Group Stage, winning all three games without giving up a goal, and then defeated the USA and Japan, two of the competition's top contenders, in back-to-back games. Across five games, it has only given up one goal in normal time, and with its propensity to score important goals from set pieces, and its ability to battle through tough patches, it looks by far the best betting option in this semi-final.
England v Australia, 2023-08-16
England is the clear favorite to win the World Cup, and now that its arch-rival the USA has been eliminated, its chances have greatly improved.
The issue for gamblers who wish to bet on England is that the defending European Champion is a very short bet to win the competition and its matchup with Australia in the semi-finals, and all of the value at this point is with its semi-final opponents.
Australia's journey to the semifinals has been filled with drama. It finished first in its Group despite losing to Nigeria in its second game, defeated Denmark in the Round of 16, and then had to survive a tense penalty shootout against France to go to the final four.
England's progress has also been precarious at times, as it was taken to penalties by Nigeria and then fell a goal behind against Colombia in the last eight.
In terms of global rankings, Australia is the undisputed underdog. It is now ranked tenth in the world, and prior to this tournament, it had never advanced past the World Cup quarterfinals, although it had made it all the way to the semifinals in the most recent summer Olympics.
The home crowd has undoubtedly helped Australia at times during this tournament, and they will be at their loudest here, and while home advantage isn’t always a big deal in international women’s soccer, that could be different here, particularly during moments when the team is under pressure.
Australia's confidence has also been boosted by its triumph against England in their most recent meeting, a friendly in April, and given that England has not been the most impressive team in the tournament so far, Australia has little to fear ahead of this semi-final.
Best Online Sportsbooks to Bet on the Women’s World Cup
Check out the top soccer betting sites below. You can get the best betting odds on the women’s World Cup when you bet with these recommended betting partners.
Online Sports Betting © 2024