The first Semifinal clash of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup sees heavy favorites Spain take on Sweden on Tuesday. This is Spain’s third time in the tournament and first time advancing beyond the first knockout stage phase. Meanwhile, Sweden is a regular sight in the competition and marks their fifth time in the Semifinals. They won one of those games, finishing as 2003 runners-up. The other three times, they lost the Semis and won the third-place match.

This pairing is interesting because it is their first time meeting in the Women’s World Cup. Their last duel happened in a friendly match in 2022, which finished in a 1-1 draw. With that, let’s take a look at team facts and other notable information covering both sides.

Spain vs. Sweden 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Semifinal Match Info

Here's how the teams line up for the first #FIFAWWC Semi-Final.

Who are you supporting?

— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) August 15, 2023

• When: Tuesday, August 15, 2023, 4:00 AM ET
• Where: Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand
• TV: FOX
• Live Stream: Fubo
• Soccer Odds: Spain (+113) / Sweden (+273) / Draw (+199)

READ MORE: Australia vs. England 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Odds and Preview

Why is Spain a safe bet to win?

Spain is ready to go all out from now on. They completed phase one of their plan, according to head coach Jorge Vilda. Moreover, they even added a few monumental achievements in the process by reaching the Semifinals for the first time.

On the flip side, La Roja’s critics point out that they are yet to face a real challenge in the tournament. Japan stunned Spain in the group stage but defeated 2019 runners-up the Netherlands 2-1 in the Quarterfinals. Alexias Putellas and the rest of the Spanish women’s national soccer team prepare to silence the doubters once more.

The European outfit historically struggled to make its mark in women’s international soccer. We’ve yet to see the side win a major trophy after only appearing twice in the FIFA World Cup. However, the team displayed steady improvement over the years and is now considered one of the best in the world. In that short timeframe, La Roja worked its way up to sixth-best in the FIFA rankings.

We look forward to the talented side showcasing dominant possession and goal scoring. Their last meeting with the Netherlands saw them take 27 shots on goal and out shoot their opponents by 18. This will be an interesting watch for all soccer fans and bettors.

Why is Sweden a safe bet to win?

If we count the two friendly matches versus Norway and the Philippines, the Swedes are on an impressive seven-game win streak. The Blagult allowed only two goals in the competition and sent home the defending champions and the mighty Japanese to reach this stage.

Sweden established itself as a team to beat in Europe and the international soccer scene, consistently recording winning performances in recent competitions. They reached the recent EURO Semis, narrowly losing to eventual champions England. The outfit also secured a silver medal in the Olympic Games and claimed third in the previous World Cup.

The Swedes aren’t as prominent goalscorers as their upcoming opponents. But in this tournament, they rank fifth with 11 goals, averaging over two goals per game. They sent home Japan with a 2-1 scoreline and out shot the Asian side 11 to ten. The biggest storyline of this squad involves sending the United States home in penalties, where they beat the defending champions, five to four from the spot.

Their unbeaten record is a huge confidence booster, especially when coming up against England. With their experience at this stage, Sweden is anticipated to give the Spaniards trouble across 90 minutes.

Spain vs. Sweden Betting Prediction

Both European nations are free-scoring teams with impressive backlines. Salma Paralluelo, Spain’s hero against the Netherlands, finds her way to the starting XI. Ballon d’Or winner Alexias Putellas may start on the bench, but Spain is expected to stick to their midfield lineup, which proved effective in the tournament.

Sweden’s Amanda Ilestedt is gunning for the top-scorer award. The Arsenal defender already has four goals to her name, one beyond current top scorer Hinata Miyazawa from Japan, who was eliminated from the tournament.

Ultimately, this game sees finer margins as Spain and Sweden are tough on both ends of the pitch. Spain holds a slight advantage over The Blue And Yellow, but expect Sweden’s crew to hold off for some time. The results can go both ways, as Sweden remain capable of producing underdog wins, especially under immense pressure from the FIFA Women’s World Cup favorites.

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