Women’s World Cup Takeaways: Spain edges Sweden in scintillating semifinal
What a recreation!
Scoring possibilities have been few and much between as Spain and Sweden clashed in Tuesday’s semifinal in Auckland on the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
But then got here an explosion of objectives — three within the remaining 9 minutes, together with the winner within the 89th minute — as Spain booked its first look in a Women’s World Cup remaining with a dramatic win over the Swedes.
The Result
Semifinal: Spain 2, Sweden 1 (in Auckland) — Game stats || Report
Main Taking Points
Spanish resilience pays off
Sweden grew to become the most recent nation at this Women’s World Cup to have realized a really painful lesson: Never depend out Spain.
La Roja stormed out of the gate at this match with a pair of lopsided wins over minnows Costa Rica and Zambia earlier than being spanked 4-0 by Japan within the Group C finale. That humbling loss meant Spain completed second within the group, and thus confronted a harder path within the knockout spherical.
But the Spaniards rebounded from their embarrassing effort in opposition to the Japanese with a complete 5-1 win over Switzerland within the spherical of 16 earlier than beating the Netherlands (World Cup finalists in 2019) in further time within the quarterfinals.
Sweden proved to be one other robust check for Spain, who regardless of dominating possession and carrying the stability of play within the first half didn’t conjure harmful scoring possibilities or report a single shot on course. After doing a superb job of proscribing Spain to lengthy photographs and hopeful crosses via the primary half, Sweden opened up and commenced to ask critical questions of their opponents.
Still, the sport dragged on and seemed to be headed into further time when substitute Salma Paralluelo, who bagged the winner in opposition to the Dutch, scored on a wondrous strike within the 81st minute to provide Spain the lead. It was Spain’s first shot on course. Spanish celebrations have been brief lived, although, as Rebecka Blomqvist equalised two minutes from day without work a header that beat Spanish goalkeeper Cata Coll on the far put up.
But Spain discovered one other gear and retook the lead the very subsequent minute when Sweden turned off for a second. The Spaniards shortly took a free kick and an unmarked Olga Carmona hit a shot from 18 yards out that discovered the again of the online and ended up breaking Swedish hearts.
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It was a resilient show by the Spaniards on the day, however that has turn into their calling card. A disappointing quarterfinal exit finally summer season’s European Championship was a surprising end result for a Spanish facet that was tabbed as one of many pre-tournament favourites.
More controversy enveloped La Roja final September when 15 gamers despatched a letter to the Spanish FA saying they’d not play for the group so long as Jorge Vilda remained in cost. The gamers questioned his coaching strategies and tactical requirements, and so they additionally had complaints about his behaviour towards them. The Spanish FA backed Vilda and whereas some gamers returned to the group, nearly all of them determined to sit down out this match in protest.
Yet, right here Spain is, on the precipice of successful its first-ever Women’s World Cup.
Sweden nonetheless the bridesmaid
Spare a thought for Sweden, the No. 3 ranked group on this planet and regarded one of many favourites coming into this match.
Sweden has been the perennial bridesmaid on the FIFA Women’s World Cup, having participated in all eight earlier tournaments, and ending runner-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.
This gave the impression to be the 12 months the Swedes would lastly break via after beating the United States (ranked No. 1 and the two-time reigning world champions) and Japan (2011 World Cup champions) in fast succession within the knockout spherical. Zećira Mušović has been the very best goalkeeper on this match, the Swedish defence was solely breached twice going into the semifinals, and centre again Amanda Ilestedt was among the many match’s prime scorers with 4 objectives.
But Tuesday’s heartbreaking defeat to Spain means Sweden has now misplaced in 4 of 5 semifinals and it’ll as soon as once more should be content material with taking part in within the third-place match.
Goal of the Day
In the 81st minute, Sweden didn’t correctly take care of a cross performed into the field by Spain’s Jennifer Hermoso. The ball fell comfortably to the ft of Paralluelo, who struck a shot whereas sandwiched between two Swedish defenders from 11 yards out that curled into the decrease proper nook.
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Moment of the Day
Just 94 seconds after Sweden levelled the rating, Spain retook the lead within the remaining minute of regulation off a nook kick. Left fullback and captain Carmona’s shot from simply exterior the penalty space went simply past the attain of Swedish goalkeeper Mušović, kissed off the underside of the crossbar and nestled into the again of the online. It was solely Carmona’s second aim for her nation.
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Fan of the Day
Refereeing legend Pierluigi Collina took in Tuesday’s recreation in Auckland, trying on with nice intent.
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Quote of the Day
“It was a really robust recreation. It may’ve been troublesome to recuperate from their aim, however we’ve proven that his group can take care of every part. We deserved this. We took this little step, and now we’d like that remaining push.” – Spain’s Salma Paralluelo
Three Stars of the Day
1. Salma Paralluelo, Spain: The 19-year-old got here off the bench within the 57th minute and gave the Spanish assault an enormous increase together with her probing and dynamic play earlier than scoring her second aim of the match with 9 minutes left in regulation to provide her group the lead.
2. Kosovare Asllani, Sweden: The veteran midfielder did a superb job of pulling the artistic strings for the Swedes. She displayed a pleasant contact on the ball and beautiful distribution within the attacking third of the pitch and arrange Blomqvist’s aim.
3. Cata Coll, Spain: Playing in simply her third recreation for Spain, the 22-year-old goalkeeper supplied her nation with stability and a relaxing presence contained in the 18-yard field. Her improbable save on Nathalie Björn’s volley proper earlier than halftime was a key second.
Looking Ahead
The different semifinal pits England vs. Australia in Sydney on Wednesday (6 a.m. ET / 3 a.m. PT) with each groups trying to achieve the ultimate for the primary time. Spain will meet the winner within the World Cup remaining in Sydney on Sunday (6 a.m. ET / 3 a.m. PT). The two semifinal losers will meet within the third-place match on Saturday in Brisbane (4 a.m. ET / 1 a.m. PT).
Australia is trying to be a part of the United States (in 1999) as the one host nation to have ever received the Women’s World Cup. The Matildas have bowed out within the quarterfinals on three events (2007, 2011 and 2015).
England’s finest displaying got here in 2015 and 2019 when it reached the semifinals. As reigning European champions, each Norway and Germany went on to win the next World Cup (2003 and 2007). England is trying to turn into the third member of that unique group.
John Molinaro is likely 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 presently the editor-in-chief of TFC Republic, an internet site devoted to in-depth protection of Toronto FC and Canadian soccer. TFC Republic may be discovered right here.
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