Women’s World Cup 2023 Final: Spain vs England Odds and Match Preview

by Luke Andrews, 17 August 2023

The moment we have waited 57 years for has finally arrived, and England will once again compete in a World Cup final. We are down to the last two of an action-packed Women’s World Cup 2023. Spain and England will fight for their first-ever World Cup trophy. The emotions have been high, and the quality of football is awe-inspiring, with twists and turns throughout the tournament. We will go through the two finalists’ journeys to the final, looking at the Women’s World Cup betting odds, the key statistics, and the essential details you need to know before the match.

After stumbling at the semi-finals twice, the Lionesses finally reached the Women’s World Cup finals for the first time in their history. Spain had never won a knockout tie in the World Cup before this edition but has cruised to the final despite a hiccup in the Group stage. The two first-time finalists will battle on Sunday, 20th August, at 11:00 am BST in the Stadium Australia, Sydney. There will be plenty of women’s World Cup betting interest in this game, and the Lionesses are likely to be well-backed by punters.

Spain has already been an incredible fairy tale, and they will be hoping for a happy ending after a massive transition, with fifteen regulars opting not to be selected for the competition. Spain women’s team coach Jorge Vilda kept his job, despite criticism, but the in-fighting meant there were no expectations for the side to excel. Before this tournament, their best performance in the World Cup was a round-of-sixteen finish in the 2019 edition. They have cruised to the finals and are now one step away from being granted the highest accolade in women’s football, and what a story it would be for the Spanish women and their much-criticised manager.

Spain’s opponents, the European Champions, have been roaring through every tournament stage as they impose their dominance. The Lionesses saw a golden opportunity and have been making the most of it when all the previous winners who had experience in the tournament didn’t make it to the last four. Sarina Wiegman has been unstoppable and dominant, patiently waiting for their perfect moments and tactically astute in her game approach.

Both sides will be playing in the finals for the first time, and being on unfamiliar territory, tensions will be high, but with the quality of both sides, we expect a highly contested final. England has been ruthless in their game approach, and we hope for the same performance. However, Spain is playing as a unit, with the players united despite disputes in the camp. The Sydney final is one you can’t afford to miss. So without further ado, here is our Spain vs England Women’s World Cup preview.

Spain Women’s World Cup 2023 results

Spain started the edition brightly, thumping Costa Rica 3 – 0 and Zambia 5 – 0. That’s eight goals scored and none conceded, enjoying eighty-one per cent and seventy-six per cent possession in a dominant display of tiki-taka football.

They had their first real scare against Japan, which played intensive and fast counter-attacking football. Despite managing over a third of the possession, Spain conceded four goals, was vulnerable, and looked exposed every time they lost the ball.

In the round of sixteen, Spain beat Switzerland 2 – 1 and 2019 finalists, Netherlands, by the same scoreline in a late showdown in the semi-final that saw all three goals scored in the final ten minutes, with Spain equalising in the eighty-eighth and Olga Carmona’s eighty-ninth minute to send her side to the final.

Spain’s Tactics – Strengths and Weaknesses

Whether they win the trophy or not, the Spain team story will be discussed for ages. Rebuilding the team without several first-team members is enough to unsettle any squad, and while Barcelona’s Mariona Caldentey, Aitana Bonmati and Manchester United’s Ona Batlle have since rejoined the team, the players who will face England are not the ones that many would have predicted before the tournament.

Reaching the finals makes that feel like a commendable move, as Jorge Vilda had to rebuild without the top talents in the team.

He decided to work with the more disciplined remnants and worked as a team to achieve a common goal. The results can be seen for a side that had never won a knockout game in the World Cup; they have now won three in a row.

Spain plays a 4-3-3 formation that is heavily reliant on ball possession. The rise of Catalina Coll in the goalkeeping position has brought some stability to the defence, replacing Sandra Panos. Teresa Abelleira has moved to the more profound number ‘six’ role replacing Patri Guijarro, and Laia Codina, known for her hard tackles, has come in to replace Mapi Leon. They play tiki-taka football keeping the ball in the grass with short, accurate passes to cut open the defence, tiring up the opposition press. The wing backs overlap once in a while to create width in their attack.

Their strength will be keeping the ball away from England, who are as well good passers of the ball.

The battle for possession will be a great brawl between the two. Spain leads the possession charts with 64.8%, ahead of Germany (64.6%) and England (60.9%). They also top the shots per game table with 24.2 per game, whereas England does not make the top five.

Their only defeat in the tournament came against Japan, who were relentless in the counter-attack. This encounter will have numerous battles, but Spain has shown great teamwork rather than individual brilliance throughout the tournament.

Alexia Putellas

The two-time Best FIFA Women’s Player trophy has fully recovered and started in their semi-final match against Sweden. The 29-year-old is expected to start here, and if she can pull out an exceptional show like Samantha Kerr against England, she has the team to back up her talent. Putellas is the kind of player who only needs one chance to hit the back of the net.

No ens cansem dels petons 😘🏆 pic.twitter.com/ZYSwSFUVR7

— FC Barcelona Femení (@FCBfemeni) June 9, 2023

Alba Maria Redondo

Redondo is Spain’s top scorer with three goals. Redondo has been powering up Spain’s right-wing and has been their main outlet in front of goal. The Levante forward has been incredible at the tournament and could be the key to unlocking England’s solid defence, with their performance much more determined if she plays well. Redondo sits 7th in the team contribution stakes, and her three goals represent 18% of Spain’s total goal tally (alongside Hermoso & Bonmatí).

Olga Carmona

She scored the winning goal in the semi-final victory against Sweden. Achieving such a fate boosts morale, and she will be in high spirits in the final that she can lead her side to victory. The Real Madrid star won the 2018 European Championship with the U-19 national team by beating Germany 1-0 in the final.

Spanish Injuries & Suspensions

Putellas is back in the line-up; Spain has no injury worries heading to the final.

England Women’s World Cup 2023 results

England have won all their games in the World Cup and are the outright favourites to win the competition.

They started their campaign with 1 – 0 victories against Haiti and Denmark before they ran riot against China, thumping them 6 – 1. They faced a stern test against unpredictable Nigeria, having to endure the extra time with ten men after Lauren James was sent off in the eighty-seventh minute. They managed to win 4 – 2 in penalties to book a quarter-final date with Colombia. It wasn’t the smoothest of wins they have had, but the skirmish showed their resilience to battle through and faced the challenge against a motivated Colombia outfit to win 2 – 1.

The red card to James, who has been their best player, dented some of their sharpness in the attack. After serving her two-match ban, she will be back in contention in the final.

England’s last game was their 3-1 win over co-hosts Australia. The path to England’s triumph involved several pivotal moments. Ella Toone initiated the proceedings with a spectacular first-time strike that soared into the upper corner of the net during the first half. Commanding the game’s flow, the Lionesses retained control until the second half when Australia launched a spirited offensive. Star striker Sam Kerr, in her tournament debut, unleashed a remarkable 25-yard goal that sailed over goalkeeper Mary Earps’ head, levelling the score at 1-1. Nevertheless, England, as is their custom, swiftly rebounded. Lauren Hemp capitalised on a defensive lapse to restore their lead. Alessia Russo sealed the victory in the later stages, cementing a final clash with Spain on the upcoming Sunday.

England’s Tactics – Strengths and Weaknesses

Wiegman’s team has transitioned from a 4-3-3 formation with four defenders to a 3-4-1-2 formation with three defenders. They’ve maintained composure while in possession and have achieved three clean sheets, only allowing two goals. The team’s depth allows for early substitutions without compromising their strong performance.

England’s playstyle is reminiscent of both Manchester City and Manchester United combined. They retain possession effectively, wearing out and frustrating their opponents, much like Man City. Their midfielders excel in long-range passes, initiating counter-attacks from deep positions. The forwards are highly alert, consistently making runs and surprising opposing defences, similar to Manchester United’s approach.

In the semi-finals, they were the dominant team and earned their victory, even though there were times they were on the defensive. The Lionesses are set to play against Spain, an equally skilled team, if not more, in ball possession, averaging over a third of the game’s possession. This might put the Lionesses in an unfamiliar position where they are not controlling the game. It will be intriguing to see how they handle this change in dynamics.

Ella Toone

The forward from Manchester United displayed exceptional skill in her goal against Australia, striking the ball powerfully with the outside of her foot to initiate the scoring. This showcased her capability to rise to the occasion, mainly when the team needed a leader to capitalise on their dominance. During the World Cup qualifiers, she was a key player, contributing to sixteen goals (scoring ten and assisting six) in just ten matches.

“I correctly predicted Toone would open the scoring for England in the semi-final, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see her on the scoresheet again. However, the England manager may bring James back to the fold, especially as she is refreshed after a two-game suspension. ” – Luke Andrews, Betting Expert – UK Market.

Lauren James

James returns from a two-match ban after receiving a red card in England’s round of sixteen encounter against Nigeria. The red card came when she was in great form in the tournament with six-goal involvements (three goals, three assists). James will be fresh, well-rested, and expected to light up the Lionesses attack in the finals. The England manager has a big decision to make. Will she replace Toone with James, or could she shuffle things up and play them together?

Honoured to wear the badge. Freshhh!! New kit same vibezz 😍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 @nikefootball @Lionesses pic.twitter.com/38Sj0OEzNz

— Lauren James (@laurenjamess22) April 3, 2023

Jess Carter

In the semi-final, the defender displayed remarkable form and poise, effectively neutralising Sam Kerr, especially when she switched positions. Carter’s exceptional skills, precise passing, and tenacious defence give the team a solid backbone and leadership in the defensive line, crucial in games where natural leaders are essential.

England Injuries & Suspensions

Captain Leah Williamson has an ACL injury, while 2022 Ballon d’Or nominee Beth Mead ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament. Lauren James returns to the squad after a two match suspension.

Spain v England – Head-to-Head Comparison

We will have a newly crowned World Cup Women’s Champion on Sunday. England and Spain are the contenders and have been by merit the best two teams in the competitions, that’s why they are in the finals. England finally shook off two semi-final defeats to book a place in the final. They will be determined to exact their dominance and experience as they have been more successful in the competition than their counterparts and will be more confident heading to the match.

Spain is enjoying a beautiful fairy tale that would be jubilant if it had a victorious ending. For a side that had never won a knockout match, winning three in a row is a remarkable fate, and with one more step to victory, they would be inspired to give all they got in the final match. Both sides play possession football; thus, this will be an incredible contest of how can play the ball better.

Spain has a star player in Putellas, and they have been keen on performing as a unit, especially in her absence. She can lead her side to victory. England has the attacking duo of Alessia Russo and Lauren Hemp, who have been in fine form in the tournament. The two each scored in the semi-final victory showing how lethal they are and their ability to perform at the highest level.

Last Meetings Between Spain & England

On 20th July 2022, during the Euro Women competition, Spain defeated England with a score of 2-1. Rodriguez was the first to score a goal at the 54th minute. Earlier that year, on 20th February 2022, the two teams met in the Arnold Clark Cup and played to a goalless draw.

On 12th March 2020, in the She Believes Cup, Spain narrowly defeated England 1-0, with Putellas A scoring the only goal in the 83rd minute. The teams faced each other on 9th April 2019 in a friendly match, where England emerged victorious with a 2-1 scoreline. Mead B was the first to net a goal at the 36th minute.

Going further back, on 23rd July 2017, England secured a win against Spain with a 2-0 score during the Euros competition. Kirby quickly scored, netting a goal just 2 minutes into the game. Honours have been even with two wins each and a draw in the last five.

Women’s World Cup 2023 Spain v England Betting Odds Overview

The final match between Spain and England will be an exciting football match, and the bookies have some fascinating markets. Both sides can win this as they have been on great form, but we have our money on England (21/11) to bring it home. Spain are slight outsiders (7/4), and a draw is set at (21/10).

With both teams employing a possession-based game, the draw wouldn’t be a total surprise, and many experts feel the game could go to the dreaded penalties.

Women’s World Cup 2023 Spain v England Betting Odds – Correct Score

The Correct Score market is where you predict the exact score of the match. Quite an difficult task, but the risk comes with rewards and better odds.

Here are the odds for the correct 2023 Women’s World Cup final score.

It’s worth remembering that correct score betting is for normal time only (unless otherwise stated). Many operators, including bet365, offer a Draw No Bet market. If the game ends in a draw, they refund the stake.

Women’s World Cup 2023 Spain v England Betting Odds – First Goal Scorer

The market for the first goals scorer is set on the player that hits the back of the net first. Here is the entire list of the players and their odds, led by Alessia Russo (17/2) for England and Esther Gonzalez (7/1) for Spain.

England is no stranger to going behind in matches. Therefore it’s not a surprise to see the Spanish trio of Gonzalez, Redondo and Hermoso leading the betting. In our Australia v England preview, I correctly predicted Ella Toone to open the scoring @9/1. This time I’m going for Arsenal’s Alessia Russo, who can be backed at 17/2.

Women’s World Cup 2023 Spain v England Betting Odds – Team to Score First

The team to score first is a market where the odds are set for the team that manages to hit the back of the net first. As mentioned, England often make life difficult for themselves and the bookmakers have Spain as slight favourites to score first.

Women’s World Cup 2023 Spain v England Betting Odds – Over and Under

The Over and Under market determines the number of goals scored in the match.

Reading the odds, operators believe the most likely outcome is Under 2.5 goals, which is available at 11/10. That said, 2-1 for either team also seems likely, so Over 2.5 at 31/20 appeals.

Women’s World Cup 2023 Spain v England Betting Odds – Both Teams to Score

The last betting market I want to highlight is the Both Teams to Score market (BTTS). With so much attacking flair on both sides, it seems almost inevitable that both Spain and England will score.

The odds of 11/10 may seem low, but as you receive your stake back, you are effectively almost doubling your money if both teams hit the net.

The 2023 Women’s World Cup final will be screened live on BBC1 and ITV1. The game starts at 11 am, but coverage begins at 10 am (BBC) and 10:15 am (ITV). You can also stream the match via iPlayer and ITVX.