Women's World Cup Saturday predictions: Sweden and Brazil to win
Recommended bets:
- Sweden to beat Italy
- Brazil to beat France
- Under 1.5 goals in Panama v Jamaica
The 2023 Women's World Cup is creeping every closer to the knockout stages and on Saturday there are three more key group fixtures to look forward to.
While Sweden clash with Italy in an all-European match in Group G, France face fellow big guns Brazil in Group F before Panama take on Jamaica.
Sweden vs Italy (Saturday, 8.30am)
In Group G at the Women's World Cup there were winning starts for both Sweden and Italy, although both sides left it late to seal their opening three points.
While a 90th-minute goal from Amanda Ilestedt handed Sweden a 2-1 win over South Africa last time out, Italy edged Argentina 1-0 courtesy of an 87th-minute strike from Cristiana Girelli.
Italy will be pleased to have got off the mark with a win but it remains to be seen how Le Azzurre will fare against stronger nations.
At Euro 2022, Italy were seriously disappointing, having finished bottom of a section featuring France, Belgium and Iceland, while they scored just the one goal across two warm-up fixtures with Morocco and New Zealand coming into the tournament.
Sweden are an experienced side — they made the semi-finals of last year's Women's European Championship — and they can justify favouritism in this clash at the Wellington Regional Stadium.
France vs Brazil (Saturday, 11am)
Pinpointed as one of the games of the group stage, France's clash with Brazil in Brisbane should not disappoint.
Both of these sides are Women's World Cup regulars, although it was the Selecao who laid down a real marker of intent in their opener, smashing Panama 4-0 thanks to a hat-trick from Ary Borges.
As for France, they were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Jamaica and Herve Renard's side has work to do.
Brazil have made great progress under head coach Pia Sundhage and look more defensively sound.
Already in 2023, they have beaten Germany 2-1 in a friendly and they took England to extra time in the Women's Finalissima at Wembley.
With captain and crucial defender Wendie Renard missing for France, Brazil can capitalise and are worth a bet to win this match at the Suncorp Stadium.
Panama vs Jamaica (Saturday, 1.30pm)
Goals could be at a premium in the other game in Group F on Saturday as Panama take on Jamaica.
Neither side got on the scoresheet in their respective Women's World Cup openers as Panama lost 4-0 to Brazil and Jamaica drew 0-0 with France.
But before that opening defeat, Panama had won 10 of their previous 14 internationals and should not be written off entirely in this match.
They should keep things tighter this time around and will draw confidence from the fact star Women's Super League striker Khadija Shaw is suspended for the Reggae Girlz.
Jamaica managed only two shots on target with Shaw in the team against France and could be even less effective up top without her.
