Sports Blog 04/06/2015: Tournament Preview – FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015, 6th June to 5th July 2015

Saturday sees the kick-off of the 7th FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada, and Spreadex is offering fixed odds and spread bets on all of the action.

For the first time in its history the Women’s World Cup is will be comprised of 24 teams in 6 groups, with the top 2 teams from each qualifying for the knockout rounds, alongside the top 4 third place teams.

First up in Group A is current hosts Canada against the hosts of the first ever tournament China. Canada will be hoping to beat their 2003 performance, when they finished fourth after losing to the USA in the 3rd place play-off. They will also be keen to avoid a repeat of 2011, where they lost all of their group games to finish bottom of their group. China, returning to the tournament after failing to qualify in 2011, have better form in the cup, runners-up back in 1999 and 4th place in 1995. The home side are expected to ride the wave of hosting excitement to victory, at a Canada/China Goal Supremacy spread betting quote of 0.95-1.15.

The other Group A games sees New Zealand face Netherlands. It’s a first appearance at a Women’s World Cup for Netherlands, who beat Italy 3-2 in the UEFA qualification play-off to reach the tournament. New Zealand are relative old hands in comparison, making their 4th appearance at a Women’s World Cup; however, they have never escaped the group stages, only managing a single point across their previous 3 tournaments after they drew against Mexico in 2011. The first-timers have the advantage, at a Netherlands/New Zealand Goal Supremacy spread of 0.5-0.7.



The first match in Group B sees 1995 winner Norway taken on tournament debutantes Thailand. Since winning the second-ever tournament (and losing the inaugural final in 1991), Norway had maintained a strong performance in the cup, finishing 4th in both 1999 and 2007. However, in 2011 they failed to escape the group round after they only managed a single win against Equatorial Guinea. Thailand just managed to qualify for the tournament, beating Vietnam 2-1 in the Asian Cup 5th place playoff. Sadly for Thailand, our traders are expecting a heavy win for the more experienced side, at a massive Norway/Thailand Goal Supremacy spread of 5.95-6.25.

Group B’s other game looks like it could be a similar whitewash, as Germany takes on the Ivory Coast. The Germans are only second to the US in terms of success in the tournament, winning it in 2003 and 2007, runners-up in 1995 and hosting the competition back in 2011. However they slumped to an extra time defeat to Japan in the last tournament, so will be eager to get back on top this year. Ivory Coast, for what it’s worth, are making their first appearance in a Women’s World Cup after coming third in the African Women’s Championship. However like Thailand our traders are expecting the Cote d’Ivoire to get a bit wake-up call, at a Germany/Ivory Coast Goal Supremacy spread of 5.45-5.75.

Group C is full of first-times, two of which being Cameroon and Ecuador. Cameron lost the final of the African Women’s Championship to Nigeria, but a top two finish still saw they qualify for the World Cup. Ecuador, on the other hand, narrowly won the CONCACAF-CONMEBOL play-off against Trinidad & Tobago after an injury time goal in the 2nd leg broke the deadlock. The African side are slim favourites for the match, at a Cameroon/Ecuador Goal Supremacy spread of 0.3-0.5.

Another debutante in Group B, Switzerland, then faces a tougher opponent in Japan. Japan were the surprise winners of the 2011 World Cup, beating the USA in extra time in the final after also knocking out previous champions Germany in the quarter finals. This was especially impressive since previous to this win they had only ever escaped the group stages once, in 1995, despite being at every tournament. Switzerland won their qualifying group, besting Iceland and Denmark among others, but face a difficult task at next Tuesday, leaving a Japan/Switzerland Goal Supremacy quote of 0.75-0.95.



Group D looks like could be the most difficult to escape; first up is Sweden and Nigeria. Sweden have come painfully close in the past, losing the 2003 final to Germany and coming 3rd in 2011 after losing their semi-final against Japan. Nigeria are a consistent presence in the cup, making an appearance at all 7 tournaments with their best finish being a narrow quarter final loss to Brazil in 1999. Spreadex is offering a Sweden/Nigeria Goal Supremacy spread betting quote of 1.35-1.55.

Australia then have the unenviable task of playing the USA in the other Group D opener. The USA are the most successful team in the tournament’s history, winning the first ever cup in 1991, and then again in 1999, before being runners up in 2011, and 3rd place in 1995, 2003 and 2007. Australia, on the other hand, will be making a 6th appearance in a Women’s World Cup, and will be hoping to get past the quarter finals, a round they reached in both 2007 and 2011. The US are clear favourites at a USA/Australia Goal Supremacy quote of 2-2.2.

Group E is full of relative newbies and one old hand; first up is Spain and Costa Rica. Spain, making their first appearance, won their UEFA qualification group, narrowly seeing off Italy and relegating the Azzurri to a play-off spot. Costa Rica, also appearing for the first time, qualified by reaching the top two of the CONCACAF Women’s Championship, where they lost the final to the USA 6-0. The Spanish side go into the game with the edge, at a Spain/Costa Rica Goal Supremacy quote of 2-2.2.

Brazil then take on South Korea in the other Group E game. South Korea haven’t been seen in the World Cup since their first appearance back in 2003, where they exited at the group stages. Brazil have a lot better form in the cup, and will be making their 7th appearance in 7. Given that they were runners up in 2007 and finished in 3rd in 1999, As Canarinhas have the advantage at a Brazil/South Korea Goal Supremacy spread of 1.1-1.3.

Group F sees a slightly more mixed selection of teams; the first game sees France face England. France saw their best ever finish in 2011, where they finished 4th after losing their semi-final 3-1 to the USA and the 3rd place play-off 2-1 to Sweden. England, on the other hand, have never been past the quarter finals in their 3 tournaments, most recently, and interestingly, losing to France on penalties in 2011. Despite the English seeking revenge, their rivals have the edge at a France/England Goal Supremacy spread of 0.85-1.05.

Finally we have two sides that have never been beyond the group stages, as Colombia face Mexico. This is Colombia’s second appearance at a World Cup, and they qualified after coming second to Brazil in the Copa America Femenina; similarly Mexico came third in the CONCACAF Women’s Championship. With both sides in good form it’s close to call, with the South American side just taking the edge at a Colombia/Mexico Goal Supremacy spread of 0.4-.6.

Make sure you check out Spreadex throughout the Women’s World Cup for the latest in fixed odds and spread betting opportunities!