2023 Women’s World Cup favorites (Expert opinion on England as a worthy contender to USA)

The 2023 Women's World Cup gets underway in Australia on Thursday, and everyone is wondering the same thing:

Can anyone take down the United States of America after back-to-back titles?

The USA enter with another loaded roster and are rightful favorites to win it all once again, but England and Spain are each emerging as two opponents that can dethrone the Americans with star striker Rachel Daly of England having the team as the second choice on the odds board.

Jaime Spencer, who works with 90Min.com and is our women's soccer expert chimed in with why this could be the year for England.

"Coming into the World Cup as reigning European champions obviously carries weight, especially with the Lionesses beating who they beat to do that - Spain, Sweden, Germany in the knockout rounds and final," Spencer said.

"A few key injuries aside, this is mostly the same squad and new faces who bring their own X-factor like Lauren James and set-piece specialist Katie Zelem have been added. Rachel Daly has also gone from starting left-back to prolific striker after a 22-goal season for Aston Villa in the WSL that equaled the league's all-time single season record. Pretty much any team would love to have Ella Toone, Mary Earps and Alessia Russo, while Georgia Stanway gives bite in midfield, and Lucy Bronze and Keira Walsh have both just won the Champions League with Barcelona."

England is the second choice in the betting market, as indicated below, but still will run into a buzzsaw that is the Americans, whol bring in some new faces that should have little issue outpacing the competition.

"It's difficult to see anyone other than the United States going all the way for the third straight time," Spencer told BetSided.

"It's quite a different team from 2019, but the quality isn't any less - Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman, Ashley Sanchez, Naomi Girma and Alyssa Thompson are all about to announce themselves on the world stage. This is also the last World Cup rodeo for Megan Rapinoe and probably Alex Morgan, Kelley O'Hara and Alyssa Naeher, so there is extra incentive to go out on a high.

"Their half of the knockout bracket is way more favourable than the other side containing England, Germany, France, Australia and Canada, so there is potential to get all the way to the semi finals before actually meeting an opponent of genuine elite quality. England could well get bogged down in the quarter-finals."

Until we get underway on Thursday, here are the odds for who will win the World Cup.

2023 Women's World Cup Odds

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.