Women’s World Cup 2023: Expert predictions: Germany vs USA final

We’re only a few days away from the 2023 Women’s World Cup kicks off. This summer’s tournament is set to be the biggest and best yet – with more tickets than ever before being sold and a much narrower gap between the teams.

The USWNT remain the top favourites – but only by a thin margin, with EURO 2022 champions England, a close second and fellow European nations Spain, Germany and France rounding out the top 5 teams.

Australia – who are co-hosting with New Zealand, could also go far in the competition.

Women’s World Cup 2023 team guides: Germany — Ex-England striker Kelly Smith predicts Germany will win the World Cup

Pundits, ex-players and managers offered up their predictions to the BBC. Here’s what they had to say.

Kelly Smith predicts Germany will win

The former England striker says the USA and Germany are the stand outs for her. She predicts Germany would beat England – who she says has been hit with lots of injuries and has a very young squad with limited World Cup experience.

“I would never, ever write off the USA because of their mental strength and their ability to perform
Kelly Smith

Winners: Germany

“I would never, ever write off the USA because of their mental strength and their ability to perform when it matters. They have had a few hic-ups in terms of results recently and they maybe don’t have the same big names in the squad, but you can’t write them off.

“Germany are potential winners if you look at their performances in the Euros. They were unlucky not to win it. It’s the USA and Germany who stand out for me.

“France are a team I think can do something special but they always seem to let me down. They have such a talented squad but have been tournament flops. They have a new manager now so you never know.

“Can Australia do what England did on home soil? Sam Kerr has had a fantastic season.”

“I think Germany will beat England in the quarter-finals. I worry for England with the injuries they have had”
Kelly Smith

England prediction: Quarter-finals

“I think Germany will beat England in the quarter-finals. I worry for England with the injuries they have had, losing a big chunk of experience and quality. It’s a young squad now with limited World Cup experience.

“Germany know what it takes to get to a final and they have strength in depth so it could be a game too far for England. The heartache that Germany sustained in that Euro 2022 final will give them extra grit to beat England and get some revenge.

“Alexandra Popp has bags of experience so, if she can stay fit, she’s a weapon for Germany.”