Women’s World Cup 2023: Sweden vs Italy Prediction, Preview, Stream, Odds and Picks

The Blue and Yellow controlled the match from start to end but had to come from behind after Hildah Magaia scored the opener for South Africa at the beginning of the second half. Fridolina Rolfo scored the equalizer.

“We made a little too many tactical and technical mistakes and that may be due to tension. It’s just nice to win, though, and we showed now that we can turn a match around,” said head coach Peter Gerhardsson during the post-match interview.

He’s right. When it comes to the first match of the biggest tournament in the sport, the tension and pressure will always be there. Luckily for Gerhardsson, his squad includes plenty of experienced players such as Caroline Seger, who’s playing in her fifth WWC.

Let’s not forget that Sweden qualified for the WWC after winning Group A of the UEFA qualifiers with a 7-1-0 record, 32 goals for, and only two against. That’s why they dominate the soccer lines for Saturday’s clash – and rightfully so – at -130.

Italy: Help from the Bench

Like Sweden, Italy also suffered a bit more than expected to defeat Argentina in its debut. The Azzurri ended up winning 1-0 thanks to a late goal scored by Cristiana Girelli, who came off the bench to play the last 10 minutes of the game.

Girelli scored a hat trick during a match of the 2019 edition, which makes me think she should be a starter. Anyway, Italy won possession with 53 percent and took 12 shots in total, seven more than Argentina.

In other words, we’re talking about a tempting underdog, especially at +425, which is the price they’re offering in the soccer odds to win straight up. That price gives you the chance of winning $425 per every $100 wagered.

The Azzurri also had an amazing performance during the qualifiers, winning Group G with a 9-0-1 record, 40 goals for and only two against. Girelli finished as the team’s top scorer with eight goals. Hey, put her in the starting lineup already.

I’m not the only one saying it. Sofia Cantore concurred: “Cristiana just needs one touch to score. We all know that. She’s one of our biggest weapons.”

You should also keep an eye on Arianna Caruso and Valentina Giacinti, who scored seven goals each. People always talk about Italy being a defensive team, but now they must talk about the Azzurri being a well-balanced squad.

Sweden vs Italy Head-to-Head

Here’s another reason for Sweden to come in as the betting online favorites: The Blue and Yellow have never lost to Italy. The two have collided three times, most recently in the Grand Finale of the Algarve Cup, which finished 1-1. Sweden won the penalty shootout 6-5. The other two matches finished with a goalless draw.

Analyzing all three results, we can also understand why the total is set at two goals with the under offering a +115 price in the sportsbook.

Sweden vs Italy Match Information

• Match: Sweden vs Italy
• Date/Time: Saturday, July 29, 3:30 a.m. ET
• Location: Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand
• Sweden vs Italy Live Stream: fuboTV

Sweden vs Italy Betting Lines