When Hendricks, the Discovery cable TV executive whom the players affectionately call "St. John" for his devotion to their cause, asked the MLS to devise a start-up business plan for a women's league - only to say no thanks - it wasn't forgotten by MLS. Neither was Foudy's comment that the women's players didn't want MLS "riding on our coattails." https://www.newsday.com/sports/wusa...s-no-1-reason-league-is-on-the-shelf-1.368183
3rd place, 3rd place, second place (lost on PKs) and a win, if that means they were cleaned out, then I do not know what it means to be good. They are deserving to be the favorite. It does not mean they will win, but they are the most consistent team in the world. Japan and France may give them trouble.
There are a lot of teams that may give them trouble. The level of competition has taken big leaps forward.
It has and it has not. There are still only 3 to 4 teams that may win the World cup. In the past that number was 2 or 3. The next 5-8 teams are better now than before, that is for sure, that is where most of the leveling has occurred, but they have almost no chance to win it all.
These odds don't look too bad. Japan is weird, they can look great one game and bad the next. https://www.highpresssoccer.com/how-to-bet-the-2019-womens-world-cup/
I would say that in the past, there were often just 2 legit threats. Also, there may only be 4 teams that could win, but there are a lot more teams that could jump up and bite you in the ass in a k.o. round. I'd put France, Germany, U.S., and England in the "could win" category. And, Holland, Sweden, Canada, Japan, and Australia in the "could bite you in the butt" catagory.