Australia Women's Team: What Predictions for the 2023 World Cup?
by Steve Ashfield | by Kevin Richard
The Heat is On for the Matildas
Australia (along with New Zealand) are the co-hosts of the 2023 Women's World Cup. On one hand that can be seen as an advantage for the Matildas but will they be waltzing with the trophy on August 20? Of the eight previous tournaments, the host has only ever won the title once. That was in 1999 when the USA won on home soil. They are also the only hosts to reach the final and to finish in the top four. Hosts have struggled in the past, will Australia prove an exception to the rule?
Being co-hosts puts a great deal of pressure on your team to do well. Australia head into this 2023 Women's World Cup having never made it past the last eight. Three times they have been beaten at that stage doing so in each of the competitions held between 2007 and 2015. This time around they will definitely want to do better than their last 16 exit four years ago. Just how will the experienced Australian team get on in July and August? Check out all the information on our Women's World Cup predictions page.
Can Kerr Take them into the Last Four?
If Australia are to finally reach the last four, then top striker Sam Kerr has to be in good form. The 29-year-old Chelsea forward has scored a record 63 goals for Australia in 121 internationals. The last Women's World Cup in 2019 saw her score five goals, including all four against Jamaica.
Australia don't totally rely on Kerr for goals. Midfielder Van Egmond has hit the back of the net 30 times. Caitlin Foord and Kyah Simon have both scored 29 international goals. Of their six strikers named for this tournament, only the relatively inexperienced Cortnee Vine hasn't reached double figures for goals scored. Even defender and record cap holder Clare Polkinghorne has 16 goals to her name.
Australia come into this 2023 Women's World Cup in good form. They have won nine of their last ten internationals. The other was a 1-0 loss to Scotland in early April. That was played in London, England and a weakened line-up was fielded.
Their most recent international was on July 14 when they beat France 1-0. Before that they had a fantastic result when beating European champions England 2-0. Perhaps a possible meeting in the last 16 wouldn't be so frightening for them?
Earlier this year the Australians won the four-team Cup of Nations tournament. They scored ten goals in their three wins over the Czech Republic, Spain and Jamaica.
Many of their players are well known to European fans of women's football. Sam Kerr plays for Chelsea, Catley and Foord are both at Arsenal and goalkeeper Lydia Williams plays for Brighton and Hove Albion.
They are a hugely experienced squad with nine players having won at least 100 international caps. Seven of their squad are aged 30+ but they will hope to put all that experience to good use. For players such as Williams, Polkinghorne, Luik, Yallop and Simon, this is likely to be their final Women's World Cup. What better way to go out than to win the tournament on home soil?
2023 Women's World Cup - Australia's Fixtures
The Matildas are currently ranked tenth in the world. They are not the highest ranked country in Group B however. Canada is in seventh place with Ireland 22nd and Nigeria 40th. Australia will therefore have to cause a ranking upset to win the group. That might be a steep task for them as Canada beat them twice last September.
Not winning the group will make life difficult for Australia. If they were to finish second, then their last 16 opponents are more than likely going to be Group D winners England. Finishing top of Group B will see them face the runners-up in Group D. Barring upsets that could see them facing Denmark for a place in the last eight. France or Brazil could be their quarter final opponents.
Before that though, they have to make their way through these group fixtures with UK kick-off times:
- Australia v Ireland - July 20th, 9am, Stadium Australia in Sydney
- Australia v Nigeria - July 27th, 9am, Lang Park in Brisbane
- Australia v Canada - July 31st, 9am, Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
You can follow all the action with lots of statistics on the Sportytrader Livescore page.
Top Predictions for Australia in the 2023 Women's World Cup
Australia are available at odds of 11.0 at bet365 and William Hill to win the 2023 Women's World Cup. That makes them the fifth favourites to lift the trophy. It's going to be a tough task to reach the final but at least they can't meet the defending champions, the USA, until that stage. They may well have to play England at some stage with Germany also possible opponents. Australia are 2.9 at bet365 to be knocked out in the last eight and that looks a reasonable bet to place.
First they have Group B to negotiate and you can get odds of 1.5 at bet365 on them finishing top. They are strong favourites to begin the tournament with a win over Ireland. You can get odds of 1.29 at Vbet for them to get the win.
The game against Canada (their last group match) is going to be a vital one and the Canadians are 3.0 at Unibet to win the group. With home advantage and hopefully two good wins over Ireland and Nigeria, the Matildas look a good bet to win the group. All the latest prices for this competition can be seen on our Women's World Cup odds page.
Can Sam Kerr be the top goalscorer at the 2023 Women's World Cup? The record goalscorer is 13.0 at Betfair to win the Golden Boot. Kerr had another successful season and scored 29 goals. If Australia can go deep in this tournament, then a bet on Kerr is a good idea, especially if you go each-way.
Odds to Win Group B
- Australia - 1.5
- Canada - 3.00
- Ireland - 17.00
- Nigeria - 34.00
Odds taken from bet365
