Women’s FIFA World Cup Finals
Spain vs England 8/20/2023 – In the early hours of Wednesday morning, England secured a triumphant 3-1 victory over co-host Australia, paving the way for an anticipated clash against Spain in the forthcoming 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final. Under the guidance of Sarina Wiegman, England’s team is vying to achieve a significant milestone by becoming the first senior England side to claim a World Cup victory since the momentous triumph of Bobby Moore’s team against West Germany in 1966. The path to the final for England involved a 3-1 victory over co-hosts Australia, while Spain secured their spot by prevailing over Sweden with a dramatic 2-1 outcome in the semi-final.
Having led the Lionesses to triumph in the Euros last summer, Wiegman’s focus remains steadfast, and she has expressed that she does not feel burdened by the pressure to end the nation’s 57-year quest for a World Cup victory. This final match will witness England and Spain vying for their maiden appearance in a World Cup Final. The return of Lauren James is a notable development, as she completes her two-game suspension following a red card for an incident involving Michelle Alozie during the last-16 victory over Nigeria. This return adds a significant boost to the Lionesses’ lineup, though it also presents Wiegman with a selection conundrum, given that the team progressed through the last two rounds without her. Ella Toone is expected to retain her position in light of this.
With the exception of Lauren James’ return, England boasts a squad in optimal fitness, and they are likely to field an unchanged lineup following their impressive win against Australia. Unfortunately, the injured captain, Leah Williamson, will have to offer her support from the stands. For Women’s FIFA World Cup Finals picks, stay tuned for insights and predictions.
Spain vs England Game Info
| When: | Sunday, August 20, 2023 6:00 AM ET |
|---|---|
| Where: | Stadium Australia in Sydney, Australia |
| TV: | FOX US |
| Stream: | N/A |
In the impending final set to take place at Stadium Australia in Sydney on Sunday, Spain holds a slight advantage as a (+160) favorite, while England stands at (+185). Interestingly, this stands in contrast to their respective world rankings, where England holds the fourth spot, and Spain ranks at No. 6. Despite these rankings, both nations share a level playing field in terms of experience, as their appearance in Sunday’s final marks a debut for each team on this grand stage.
Spain’s remarkable journey to their inaugural World Cup final has been noteworthy, particularly given the controversial buildup to the tournament. They enter the final as an immensely thrilling team, characterized by a wealth of attacking talent, including standout players like Aitana Bonmati. This exciting squad has demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity and has showcased a penchant for late-game drama. While the overall competition might leave something to be desired, Spain has undeniably established itself as the standout team.
Leading up to the final, Spain boasts a notable +14.8 expected goal differential, an accomplishment further highlighted by their outperforming the team with the second-best expected goal differential by the same margin as that between the second and eleventh teams. It’s worth noting that Spain has somewhat fallen short of their underlying metrics, with a +10 goal differential across six matches compared to the +14.8 expected goal differential.
Spain vs England 8/20/2023: Clash of Experience and Potential in the Women’s World Cup Final
A portion of this divergence can be attributed to a group match against Japan, where Spain suffered a 4-0 loss, though their performance aligned closely with an expected goal differential of 0.2. Spain’s recent triumph over Sweden, a higher-ranked team than England, has bolstered their confidence. If they can replicate this level of performance, they position themselves well to lift the coveted trophy.
Contrastingly, England carries significant big-game experience in their arsenal, courtesy of their fairy-tale Euros success on home soil at Wembley last summer. This valuable experience is poised to pay dividends on the grandest stage of all, as they aim to secure an exquisite double within a span of just 12 months. Through their performance, they have the opportunity to etch their names into the annals of football folklore, thus achieving sporting immortality.
Spain vs England 8/20/2023. In the previous edition of the Euros last summer, England found themselves facing Spain in the quarter-final stage, a contest that unfolded dramatically. England showcased their resilience by coming from behind to secure a 2-1 victory in extra time at Brighton’s Amex Stadium. Toone and Georgia Stanway’s timely goals created the opportunity for this exhilarating victory, neutralizing Esther Gonzalez’s initial opener. These two teams have also crossed paths at other significant tournaments, including the 2013 and 2017 Euros and the 2022 Arnold Clark Cup. However, the impending encounter marks the first-ever clash between the two nations in the Women’s World Cup.
Spain Favored for Victory or Draw Against England in the Final: Analyzing the Odds and Factors
Spain vs England 8/20/2023: Despite both teams sharing identical goal differentials as they enter the final, there is a prevailing sentiment that Spain might face slight underestimation. Manager Jorge Vilda’s squad is riding the momentum of a well-earned triumph against Sweden, a team ranking at the impressive third position in the global rankings. In contrast, England reached the final by securing a victory over Australia.
This scenario raises significant concerns for the Lionesses, who also carry a history of less favorable outcomes against Spain in previous encounters. Notably, in the 2022 European Championships, Spain experienced a 2-1 loss to England in a match where their expected goals performance demonstrated their potential. With England’s defense showing vulnerabilities in surrendering prime scoring opportunities, doubts arise about their ability to break through Spain’s defense, which has managed to contain all six opponents within the range of one expected goal.
Considering these factors, an England victory at the conclusion of regular time appears to be the least likely outcome. Instead, the odds favor Spain to secure a victory or force a draw within the 90 minutes of play plus any injury time. Odds of -135 or better support this perspective for sports picks and predictions.
Free Pick and Prediction: Spain will win 2-1