British sports analytics company Opta has predicted United States team, four-time champions, to claim a fifth title at this year’s edition of women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The British firm ranked Nigeria’s Super Falcons in a distant number 26 to win the global showpiece Down Under.
“The United States are our favourites to go all the way, with Opta’s supercomputer giving them a 21.6% chance of glory,” Opta stated.
“England, the champions of Europe, are ranked second, at 16.9%. However, Sarina Wiegman’s team are without some key players due to injury.
“Spain – who will have Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas back – are given a 21.9% chance of reaching the final and an 11.3% shot of glory. However, they head into the tournament amid a dispute over their working conditions. Germany and France come next.”
The sports analytics firm added, “Australia are ranked as the sixth favourites, at 5.88%, higher than the likes of the Netherlands, Sweden and Brazil. Fellow hosts New Zealand are in the middle of the pack, in 17th.”
