by
England is the favorite to win the Women’s World Cup, but at the last eight stage, it is Japan that looks the better pick to lift the trophy.
Who do Bettors Favor?
According to the best-rated online sportsbooks, bettors still favor England to win the World Cup, although the margin is small. England is priced at up to +300 with Spain the second favorite at +350 and Japan and France available at +490 and +510 respectively. Colombia is rated as the underdog of the eight remaining teams at +3000.
| World Cup Winner |  |  |  |
| England | +300 | +242 | +240 |
| Spain | +350 | +350 | +350 |
| Japan | +450 | +490 | +475 |
| France | +500 | +510 | +500 |
| Australia | +850 | +800 | +800 |
| Sweden | +1000 | +920 | +900 |
| Netherlands | +1400 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Colombia | +3000 | +2800 | +2600 |
MTS World Cup Quarter Finals Betting Briefing
After some shocks in the Round of 16, as well as some near misses for the big teams, we are down to eight teams remaining in the Women’s World Cup. The four quarter-finals will take place on August 11 and August 12, with the first two games played in New Zealand and the second in Australia.
The USA was the most notable team to be knocked out of the tournament, ultimately losing on penalties to Sweden after failing to score in normal or extra time. Tournament favorites England came close to following the USA, as an identical scoreline took it to penalties against Nigeria, but the greater professional experience of the England players ultimately prevailed.
The result is that the top half of the draw is wide open, with Spain taking on Netherlands and Japan playing against Sweden. In the bottom half, England now faces the challenge of Colombia while France must take on the remaining host nation Australia in front of its home crowd in Brisbane.
MTS World Cup Favorites
There are three teams priced at less than +500 and of those three, Japan looks the best option. England is still the favorite ahead of Spain, and it is hard to argue with that status, based on results, if not on performances. England looked good in its final Group game, but the two narrow victories prior to that were not impressive and by the end of the Round of 16 game against Nigeria, the England team looked down and out, though eventually came through on penalties.
Spain may appear to be a good alternative, given its 5-1 victory over Switzerland in the Round of 16, but it is worth remembering that Spain has conceded four goals against the only top-quality team it has played so far, Japan, scoring 13 goals against the Swiss, Zambia and Costa Rica. It faces a tough quarter-final against the Netherlands, and then potentially Japan again in the semi-finals.
So, at the bigger price of the three, Japan could be the best of the favorites. It has been flawless so far, scoring 11 goals without reply in beating Zambia, Costa Rica and Spain, and was the better team throughout its 3-1 win over Norway in the Round of 16. I
Japan’s quarter-final opponent Sweden had a similarly impressive Group record, but didn’t face the same caliber of opposition as Japan did, and is likely to try to repeat the defensive tactics it employed against the USA, in which it managed one shot-on-target in the entire game. Japan has the creativity and invention to break down defensive teams and looks a good pick for tournament winner.
MTS World Cup Betting Contenders
This quarter-final lineup does not contain any obvious underdogs so it could be worth looking at those teams available at bigger odds lower down in the betting markets.
One obvious contender is Australia. Home advantage can count for a lot in the big games, particularly if a team needs a lift at crucial times, and the Australian crowd has been getting behind its team with enthusiasm over the last few games. The team struggled to get going in the Group Stage, only narrowly beating Ireland and losing to Nigeria, but a 4-0 win over Canada clinched the Group and it then looked very comfortable in beating Norway 2-0 to reach the last eight.
The Netherlands has also looked solid so far, but it is in the tougher half of the draw, so at bigger odds, there could still be some value in Colombia.
The South American contender wasn’t enormously impressive in its opening three games and topped the Group despite losing to Morocco in its final match, and once again had to work hard in the Round of 16, eventually prevailing 1-0 against Jamaica. But Colombia is a dangerous team, with a front line that can cause any opponent significant problems.
It also has arguably the most exciting player in world soccer in its ranks in Linda Caicedo, and while it has focused on defensive solidity so far, Colombia has the ability to score freely if required, so as the outsider of eight, it has to be taken seriously.
Best Online Sportsbooks to Bet on the Women’s World Cup
Check out the best soccer betting sites below. You can enjoy the best women’s World Cup betting when you wager through these recommended betting partners.
