Women’s World Cup Takeaways: New champion will be crowned after Sweden beats Japan
A brand new title might be etched on the FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy this 12 months, one other positive signal that the hole between the haves and have-nots within the girls’s sport is closing.
After dumping two-time defending champion United States out of the event within the earlier spherical, Sweden bested Japan (the 2011 World Cup winners) in Friday’s quarterfinal, which implies there aren’t any extra former champions remaining within the event. Previous winners Germany and Norway had been beforehand eradicated.
Sweden will meet Spain in subsequent Tuesday’s semifinal in a matchup that guarantees to be some of the entertaining and intriguing of this World Cup.
The Results
Quarterfinals: Japan 1, Sweden 2 (in Auckland) – Game stats || Report
Main Talking Point
Could this be the 12 months that Sweden breaks by way of?
Sweden has been the perennial bridesmaid on the FIFA Women’s World Cup, having participated in all eight earlier tournaments, and ending runners-up in 2003 to go together with three different semifinal appearances. Olympic success has additionally eluded the Swedes, who needed to accept second place after dropping consecutive gold-medal video games in 2016 and 2021.
But possibly it will lastly be the 12 months when Sweden takes the final step towards footballing immortality. Ranked third on this planet for the time being, the Swedes hit their stride coming into this World Cup and at the moment are the highest-ranked nation remaining within the competitors following their thrilling win over No. 11 Japan on Friday.
Fresh off an epic win over the top-ranked United States within the round-of-16, Sweden stored its momentum alive with a hard-fought victory over Japan courtesy of targets from Amanda Ilestedt and Filippa Angeldal, whereas goalkeeper Zećira Mušović prolonged her shutout streak to 429 minutes.
The Swedes tore into the Japanese proper from the opening kickoff with their dominant play in midfield and had been rewarded for his or her efforts simply after the half-hour mark. The Nadeshiko had been unable to clear their strains off a free kick performed into the field and Ilestedt pounced by burying her shot from in near put Sweden in entrance. It was solely the second objective Japan had conceded at this World Cup and marked the primary time it had trailed at this event. Japan was clearly rattled, and Sweden took full benefit by doubling their lead early within the second half when Angeldal transformed from the penalty spot.
For a facet that outscored its opponents 14-1 in its earlier 4 video games (all of them wins), Japan seemed shell-shocked and was unable to unlock the Swedish defence — its first shot heading in the right direction didn’t come till the 63rd minute. Only after coach Futoshi Ikeda made some second-half substitutions did the Japanese assault come alive. Riko Ueki’s missed penalty and fellow substitute Honoka Hayashi’s objective had been the highlights of a frenetic closing 25 minutes of regulation and harm time from a determined Japanese facet that pushed the Swedes to the restrict however finally fell simply brief.
Japan conceded extra targets on this sport than it had of their first 4 video games, a testomony to the Swedes’ attacking ingenuity and persistence. Friday’s defeat means the Japanese have now misplaced three of their final 4 knockout video games on the World Cup, relationship again to their loss to the U.S. within the 2015 closing held in Vancouver.
This was additionally solely the second time that Japan had misplaced to a European opponent in a knockout spherical match on the World Cup — it had misplaced to eventual runners-up the Netherlands within the round-of-16 in 2019. Prior to Friday’s loss, it had gained 5 of its six video games in opposition to groups from Europe in do-or-die video games on the World Cup.
Goal of the Day
In the 87th minute, simply moments after Aoba Fujino’s free-kick smacked the crossbar, Honoka Hayashi drilled the ball previous goalkeeper Zećira Mušović from in shut for Japan after the Swedish defence couldn’t clear its strains. In the buildup, Kiko Seike made an amazing flip contained in the field to peel away from a Swedish defender earlier than enjoying the ball ahead to maintain Japan’s attacking sequence alive earlier than Hayashi swept the ball residence.
Fan of the Day
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Quote of the Day
“It’s fantastic, clearly. The sport had every part. In phrases of efficiency, we had our greatest of the event. It obtained very thrilling; Japan is without doubt one of the greatest groups within the event.” – Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson informed Swedish radio.
Three Stars of the Day
1. Amanda Ilestedt, Sweden: The newly-signed Arsenal striker was a tower of energy for the Swedes up entrance, scoring her fourth objective of the event to assist ship her nation by way of to the semifinals.
2. Honoka Hayashi, Japan: Just six minutes after coming into the sport instead, the West Ham United midfielder scored her first-ever worldwide objective to present her nation a lifeline.
3. Zećira Mušović, Sweden: Fresh off an 11-save effort in opposition to the United States, Mušović as soon as once more got here up with some well timed stops in opposition to Japan.
Looking Ahead
The quarterfinals wrap up with two matches on Saturday. Co-host Australia takes on France in Brisbane (3 a.m. ET). A win would ship the Matildas by way of to the semifinals for the primary time in eight World Cup appearances. France’s greatest exhibiting was a fourth-place end in 2011.
Also, England clashes with Colombia in Sydney (6:30 a.m. ET). While the Lionesses try to make it to the semifinals for a 3rd straight time, Colombia is trying to change into solely the second South American staff to succeed in the ultimate 4 (Brazil in 1999 and 2007).
John Molinaro is without doubt one of the main soccer journalists in Canada, having lined the sport for over 20 years for a number of media retailers, together with Sportsnet, CBC Sports and Sun Media. He is at present the editor-in-chief of TFC Republic, an internet site devoted to in-depth protection of Toronto FC and Canadian soccer. TFC Republic could be discovered right here.
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