Women's World Cup preview, odds: Watch out for these bracket busters

China enters this World Cup as the Asian champion … but also as the most likely team to cause mayhem in pundits' brackets. A group featuring England, Denmark and Haiti should be un-winnable, but China’s fluid approach means it’s capable of snatching points off all three of those wildly different teams. China could easily edge Denmark to the second-place spot in Group D, but it could also shock the world and take first if injury-laden England struggles in its opening games.

The world tends to underestimate the Asian federation — don't make the same mistake. China has proven time and time again that it's no pushover.

Switzerland

Coach: Inka Grings

Player to Watch: Ana-Maria Crnogorčević

Biggest Honor: Round of 16, World Cup (2015)

Odds to Win: +19000

At first glance, Switzerland is an odd choice for a bracket buster. The team is small and inexperienced and tends to rely upon the same few players in every match. It’s failed to win every single one of its pre-World Cup friendlies, and it’s struggled to score, too; three of its six 2023 matches ended in 0-0 draws.

But what Switzerland lacks in firepower it makes up for with a beautiful and entirely fortuitous group draw. It finds itself in Group A, playing against New Zealand, Norway and the Philippines. It’s the easiest group in the tournament by some distance, and Switzerland shouldn’t have a problem cruising into second place and qualifying for the knockout rounds.

From there, Switzerland will face one of Spain or Japan — again, the two easiest opponents left in the field. While both should be capable of dispatching the Swiss, anything could happen in a one-game knockout formula. Of all the ‘peloton’ teams sitting in the middle of the pack at this Cup, Switzerland have far and away the best draw to launch themselves into the latter stages of the tournament.

South Korea

Coach: Colin Bell

Player to Watch: Cho So-hyun

Biggest Honor: Asian Cup Runners-Up (2022)

Odds to Win: +19000

South Korea in 2023 is a prime example of why World Cups aren’t simply about winning every game. In a group that features high-flying Germany, South Korea simply can’t expect to finish first. But that’s okay, because South Korea doesn’t have to finish first to earn its place in the knockout rounds. It only has to finish second — and will battle Colombia for that honor in one of the most interesting group matchups in the tournament.

South Korea isn’t a particularly young or stylish team, but it’s mature, composed and savvy. It’s finally coming into its own after many years of underperformance on the Asian continent and recently made it all the way to the final of the Asian Cup — where it beat World Cup challengers Australia handily in the knockout rounds. South Korea can pull off big surprises when called upon, and while it likely won’t run deep in the tournament, it could bust expected brackets by simply propelling itself out of Group H.

Colombia

Coach: Nelson Abadía

Player to Watch: Linda Caicedo

Biggest Honor: Pan American Games Champions (2019)

Odds to Win: +19000

On the other side of the Group H dilemma is Colombia, perhaps the stylistic opposite of South Korea in 2023. This Colombian team is young, reckless and hungry. It’s led by a world-class forward in Linda Caicedo and will push South Korea right to the edge to claim that second-place spot in Group H.

Colombia has speed and the element of surprise working in its favor. This is a team that rarely tires and that enjoys attempting unexpected attacks to throw off its competitors. Where it struggles — where teams like it always struggle — is game management. Colombia throws everything forward but doesn’t always make the best choices once inside the opposition box. It doesn’t always have the experience to turn its fascinating attacks into goals.

With that in mind, Colombia versus South Korea for that Group H advancement spot is a toss-up. South Korea may be more likely to snatch it, but interestingly, Colombia may be more likely to succeed against bigger fish like Brazil and France — its all-or-nothing style is breathtaking in its intensity.

Argentina

Coach: Germán Portanova

Player to Watch: Estefanía Banini

Biggest Honor: Copa America Champions (2006)

Odds to Win: +19000

Argentina may be a soccer-loving country, but its women’s team has suffered through almost unthinkable challenges. Once regular challengers in South America (and continental champions in 2006), the Albiceleste ceased to exist entirely for two years in the 2010s because of player strikes and lack of funding. The fact that Argentina is back in the World Cup this soon is a minor miracle in and of itself.

Argentina suffers from the same problem that South Korea and Colombia do: it’s seeded into a group where first place is basically already guaranteed. In Argentina’s case, it’s Sweden who should run away with the group victory. But that second advancement spot is balanced on a knife’s edge between Italy and Argentina. Most major outlets — including this one — are forecasting it for Italy, but Argentina is eminently capable of shaking things up and snatching it instead.