FIFA Women’s World Cup Preview And Tips Part Four – Groups G & H

We’ve now reached the fourth and final part of our mini-series previewing the forthcoming FIFA 2023 Women’s World Cup Finals.

If you haven’t caught up with the first three parts, then click on the links below to read through our previews of the first six groups drawn for the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

• Groups A&B,
• Groups C&D.
• Groups E&F

In those previous articles we have taken a closer look at both hosts nations, the teams that comprise England’s group as well as what lies in store for the current holders, the United States.  

Both the Lionesses and the current World Champions are amongst the shorter-priced favourites for the tournament with bet365 Sport.

So let’s now look at the final two groups in a little more detail, as well as our predictions for the team that will win the World Cup later this summer.

FIFA 2023 Women’s World Cup Finals

• Location – Australia and New Zealand
• Dates – 20^th July to 20^th August 2023
• Teams – 32 (8 groups of 4)
• Venues – 10 (in 9 host cities, 5 in Australia, 4 in New Zealand)
• Current Holders – United States

Group G

New Zealand will be home of the games in Group G

• Sweden
• South Africa
• Italy
• Argentina

Fixtures

• 22^th Jul – Sweden v South Africa (Wellington Regional Stadium) – 5.00am
• 24^th Jul – Italy v Argentina (Eden Park, Auckland) – 6.00am
• 28^th Jul – Sweden v Italy (Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin) – 12.00am
• 29^th Jul – Argentina v South Africa (Wellington Regional Stadium) – 7.30am
• 2^nd Aug – Argentina v Sweden (Waikato Stadium, Hamilton) – 7am
• 2^nd Aug – South Africa v Italy (Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin) – 7am

Team Snapshots

Sweden

One of the most dangerous teams outside of the top four are the Swedes, who are ranked third in the world, but whose performances of late have been a little below par with draws with Germany and Norway sandwiching a 1-0 home defeat by Denmark.

The Swedes have vast experience with five players (Sembrandt, Asllani, Seger, Schough and Jakobsson having 790 caps (and 129 goals) between them. Fitness should not be a problem, but they will miss the injured duo Lina Hurtig and Amanda Ilestedt if they are not fit enough for the squad.

Top Player – Stina Blackstenius (AML) Blackstenius has taken over from Asllani as the main attacking threat from wide left where she is creative and can score vital goals. She is also a threat in the air at set plays.

South Africa

One of the lower ranked nations in the tournament at 54^th in the world, South Africa are one of the biggest African nations in the women’s game, but they are still lagging behind the top teams from Europe, Asia and North America at this present moment in time.

Exposure in these big events will help alleviate that but in a group that also features Sweden and Italy, it would be a huge surprise if the Banyana Banyana qualify from the group stage.

Top Player – Linda Motlhalo (AML) – The Glasgow City winger is one of South Africa’s most creative and dangerous players and has been in good form for her club and country in the most recent games.

Italy

Quarter finalists in the 2019 tournament after not qualifying for 20 years, Italy ended a run of five straight losses bac in February by beating South Korea and then beat Colombia, both by a 2-1 scoreline.

This is a very technically gifted squad who have a nucleus of players from Juventus, Roma and the two Milan clubs. Defensively solid, the Italian’s will be one of the toughest teams to beat at the tournament.

Top Player – Cristiana Girelli (AC) – Italy may be famous for producing defensive stars, but Girelli is an outstanding international class attacker with 53 goals in 102 caps for her country. Inducted into the Italian football hall of fame, this will be the 33-year-olds best chance to land success at this tournament.

Argentina

After two poor World Cups in 2003 and 2007, where they suffered a number of heavy defeats, Argentina qualified in 2019 and drew two games, picking their first points ever in World Cup tournaments and showing the huge progress made with the women’s game in that 16 year spell.

This Argentina team is one of the least experienced at the tournament and it is going to be interesting to see whether the progress made four years ago has been maintained and improved, or if this is a generation which needs to build towards the next finals.

Top Player – Mariana Larroquette (DMR) – A versatile and experienced player who has played in Argentina, Portugal, Chile, Norway, the United States and Mexico in her career. Good going forward and has a fine goalscoring record from the right side of defence/midfield.

Our Group G Prediction

1. Sweden – Q
2. Italy – Q
3. Argentina
4. South Africa

Group H

Group H games will all be played at venues across Australia.

• Germany
• Morocco
• Colombia
• South Korea

Fixtures

Kick off times shown are UK time (8-12 hours behind)

• 24^th Jul – Germany v Morocco (Melbourne Rectangular Stadium) – 4.30am
• 25^th Jul – Colombia v South Korea (Sydney Rectangular Stadium) – 2.00am
• 30^th Jul – Germany v Colombia (Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide) – 4.30am
• 30^th Jul – South Korea v Morocco (Sydney Rectangular Stadium) – 10.30am
• 3^rd Aug – South Korea v Germany (Lang Park, Brisbane) – 10.00am
• 3^rd Aug – Morocco v Colombia (Perth Rectangular Stadium) – 10.00am

Team Snapshots

Germany

One of the most successful World Cup teams in history and twice winners, Germany will once again be amongst the favourites for the trophy this summer. Beaten only three times since the start of 2022 (by England, Brazil and the USA) they are a team very much amongst the front-runners.

Germany excel in midfield where Lena Oberdorf and Sara Dabritz combine to form a potent duo in central midfield, while Alexandra Popp is still scoring goals for her national team, now at 67 foals in 127 caps.

Top Player – Lena Oberdorf (DMC) – This 21-year-old prodigy has 37 caps and 3 goals to her name for her country already. An outstanding holding midfielder who is one of the very best players in the world.

Morocco

Morocco have done the impossible already in becoming the first Arab country to qualify for the women’s World Cup, but ranked 73^rd in the world against some good calibre opponents, this is going to be a real test for the North African side.

Led by former Nantes midfielder Reynald Pedros, the African side will be well-organised but it is hard to see how this young and inexperienced team at this level is going to make it through from the group.

Top Player – Rosella Ayane (AC) – The tall striker has had a good career in England and Cyprus, currently plying her trade for Tottenham. She has 19 caps for Morocco, scoring 9 goals after declaring for the country in 2021.

Colombia

Las Chicas Superpoderosas (The Powerpuff Girls) is the wonderful nickname for this Colombian team who are making their fourth appearance at a World Cup Finals this summer. They reached the Round of 16 back in 2015 and will have ambitions to do the same this year too.

After a fantastic run of games where they won 12 of 14 games, losing only to Brazil in that run, defeats to France and Italy in April have dampened expectations a little, but this is a team that should be looking to reach the knockout phase.

Top Player – Catalina Usme (AC) – The main striking threat for Colombia, Usme will carry the majority of the goalscoring responsibility as the most experienced and talented of Colombia’s attacking players.

South Korea

Managed by Englishman Colin Bell, South Korea are 17^th in the World Rankings and are a tricky team and it will likely be between them and Colombia for second place in the group behind Germany, who should win all three games.

Two five-goal wins over Zambia in April ended a run of three defeats and this hugely experienced team will certainly not lack for knowhow at the tournament.

Top Player –  Ji So-yun (AMC) – The former Chelsea star has amassed 144 caps and 66 goals for her country and is their main creative and attacking threat.

Our Group H Prediction

1. Germany – Q
2. Colombia – Q
3. South Korea
4. Morocco

That’s All Eight Groups Previewed – So Who Is Going To Win It?

This could well be the most open World Cup for many years, with the United States team, while still favourites, not as strong as previous teams, while other teams like England, Spain, Germany, France, Sweden and Australia have really closed up the gap to the top teams in the world.

Home advantage can be massive as England found out at the Euros, so I think Australia at 11/1 are a good each way bet.

But for a winner bet, I am going to go away from the United States and back a very talented France side here at 9/1, especially with England having so many players hit by injuries, and Spain losing 15 of their key players due to a dispute over the manager.

For more information about the tournament anfd some of its potential stars and teams you can read through our FAQ guide to the Women’s World Cup.

Additionally, our Pre World Cup Women’s World Best XI is a great place to read about some of the stars who will be appearing at the finals this summer, and sadly, some that won’t.

However, the action begins on July 20^th and it should be a cracking summer of soccer Down Under!

*All odds shown in this article were provided by bet365 Sport.