Who will book a place in the 2023 World Cup semi-finals?

Fans who love to eat well and enjoy the best that football has to offer, would love nothing more than to witness the first part of the feast called the Women's World Cup quarterfinals. Will it be Spain's first ever semi-final in the history of the Women's World Cup, with the legendary Barcelona Women's team at the core? Many are asking that question. The women's team from the land of bulls has made incredible progress, having failed to qualify for the 2011 World Cup, then being eliminated in the group stage of the 2015 World Cup, failing to get past the round of 16 four years ago, and now, for the first time, being in the quarter-finals after a resounding victory over Switzerland in the knockout round.

Will it be the Netherlands’ second consecutive semi-final, having done so in 2019 (beating Italy in the quarter-finals, then Sweden in the semis)? It’s worth noting that Andries Jonker’s side have had a similar journey to Spain. They also didn’t reach the World Cup finals until 2011, but then reached the round of 16 in 2015.

Japan women's team is the only representative of Asia in the quarterfinals of the 2023 World Cup

There is no doubt that this is a difficult match to predict. It is the only meeting between two increasingly highly regarded European giants at this stage. Although the Netherlands have a better record in this tournament than Spain, having not lost a game, they are still considered underdogs. They have faced each other 10 times before, with Spain winning five (most recently 2-0 in the 2019 Algarve Cup) and drawing two, while the Netherlands have won three. Now it is a real showdown as Spain, who have scored 13 goals in this tournament thanks to a very sharp attack, led by star Aitana Bonmati, will be tested by a Dutch defence that has conceded just one goal and a very mobile midfield, led by Jill Roord. Roord has made Dutch football history by becoming the first player from the country to score in three consecutive Women's World Cups.

So what about the next game between Japan and Sweden? Will Japan reach the semi-finals for the third time in the last four tournaments, and will their status as the only quarter-finalists to have won the World Cup help them overcome Sweden, the third-ranked team in the world, who also finished third at the 2019 World Cup? Looking at the numbers, it’s easier to be impressed by Japan than Sweden, even though the Nordic side sent the US home in one of the craziest penalty shootouts in the tournament’s history and are in the quarter-finals for the seventh time in nine appearances. Hinata Miyazawa, the leading candidate for the top scorer title, and her teammates have scored 14 goals in the tournament, conceded just one, and have scored fewer than three goals in only one of their four wins (a 2-0 win over Costa Rica).

The Spanish women's team (right) have a better head-to-head record against the Netherlands

As for Sweden, coach Peter Gerhardson and his coaching staff not only have to deal with the fact that many of their players were tired after the win over the USA, but they may also be without key player Filipna Angeldal, who left the pitch on a stretcher. Their hero from that match, goalkeeper Zecira Musovic, could be the hero again when they face Japan, who are favourites and have won eight of their last 10 games against European opposition, most recently losing to Spain (4-0). The last time they met at a Women's World Cup was in the semi-finals of the 2011 tournament, with Japan winning 3-1, before going on to win the final after beating the USA in a heroic penalty shootout.

What are the predictions for the first two quarter-final matches? The Spain-Netherlands match will probably go into extra time and possibly penalties. Meanwhile, Japan is likely to advance in the second match. Let's wait and see.

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