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To open this year’s World Cup, Sweden hoped for a simple contest in opposition to, on paper, the best crew to beat in Group G in South Africa. It didn’t go that method, with the Swedish escaping that contest Wellington by the pores and skin of its tooth with a win. Sweden wanted a Ninetieth-minute Amanda Ilestedt purpose to get all three factors. With Italy and Argentina on the horizon, the Swedish have been thought to have a bumpy street to even attain the knockout stage. Take into account that sentiment silly, as Sweden responded with a 5-0 win over Italy on Saturday. Mixed with Argentina’s draw with South Africa, the Swedish are via to the knockout phases earlier than the ultimate match day in Group G.
No world match winner in historical past hasn’t gone via adversity. In 2015, america took harsh criticism for the way it ended the group stage with a scoreless draw in opposition to Sweden and scoring solely as soon as in opposition to Nigeria. The USWNT ended up dominating the remainder of the match and who will ever neglect Carli Lloyd’s first-half hat trick within the remaining in opposition to Japan? In 2019, the USA almost obtained uncovered by England within the semifinals, however held on to advance. Nobody is immune. And Sweden clearly has figured one thing out in opposition to an Italian crew that was anticipated to carry its European colleagues in verify. Sweden received by 5 objectives and doubtless deserved a bigger margin based mostly on its dominance on Saturday.
Full disclosure, I did decide Sweden to win this whole damn tournament, and the win over Italy was precisely the kind of efficiency I had in thoughts when choosing it to win. It was an entire crew effort with 4 completely different purpose scorers. And Sweden held Italy to 2 photographs on purpose. With the turbulence america confronted in Group E, the prize for profitable that quadrant seems to be avoiding Sweden within the Spherical of 16. How disappointing would it not be for america if it doesn’t win one knockout spherical sport? That’s on the desk with how drastically Sweden disposed of Italy.
Brazil’s in bother
If Brazil doesn’t beat Jamaica on Wednesday, it’s eradicated from the World Cup. What a thud that might be for Marta and one of many match favorites, after Saturday’s 2-1 loss to France. The 2 groups anticipated to advance easily from Group F went to battle and one is now susceptible to an early flight dwelling. If solely Brazil might correctly defend headers on set items.
Historical past for Jamaica
Earlier than Sunday’s scoreless draw in opposition to France, the Reggae Ladies had by no means earned a degree in a World Cup earlier than. Jamaica misplaced all three video games in its debut look 4 years in the past, however did rating one purpose. Allyson Swaby’s 56th-minute header off a nook kick was the crew’s first purpose in Australia and New Zealand, and represented Jamaica’s first-ever victory in a World Cup. In a uncommon all-CONCACAF matchup on the worldwide stage, the Reggae Ladies defeated Panama, who have been eradicated from rivalry to advance to the ultimate 16 with the loss.
Jamaica is at present on the prime of my record for essentially the most spectacular crew in comparison with expectations within the match. Have in mind, Saturday’s victory over Panama got here with out the crew’s greatest participant, Khadija “Bunny” Shaw, due to a crimson card. She’ll be again for its Group F finale in opposition to Brazil. Take into account Wednesday’s finale to be must-watch tv.
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