Key events
After their underwhelming start to this World Cup the US are probably not favourites to win this match. However, while Sweden’s set pieces have been impressive their open play has not been the best the tournament has seen so far. I think it will be a really close encounter.
A good feature for this match:
Some good news for England fans as Keira Walsh was in full training ahead of their lat 16 match against Nigeria tomorrow:
Kurt has emailed and said: “Why has the USWNT played so mediocre at this Women’s World Cup?” Honestly I don’t know if we have enough time on this blog to get to the bottom of this answer! I think their game plans just aren’t coming together and there has been a lot of talk about the lack of substitutions – they have a great strength in depth and should use it more. If anyone else wants to get in touch you can reach me via Twitter or email.
Here’s a piece to get your teeth into!
As a fire alarm echoed throughout Eden Park on Tuesday night and the public-address system asked everyone to evacuate, most of the crowd of 42,000 stayed in their seats in confusion. It turned out to be a false alarm, and almost too fitting a metaphor for a night to forget for the United States.
A scoreless draw with Portugal secured the defending champions a place in the knockout rounds. That was an outcome widely expected by most of the world prior to the tournament. How the US got there, however, could be generously described as a grind.
Something clearly needs to change for the US. The Americans possess the individual talent to perform far better than they have thus far. Among the necessary changes is the relatively simple: be more clinical in front of goal. Dig into how those chances will be created though, and things get more complicated.
You can read the full article below:
A fact for you:
Sarina Wiegman is now the only female coach whose team is still left in this #FIFAWWC and we haven’t finished the round of 16 yet #Lionesses
— Tom Garry (@TomJGarry) August 6, 2023
Sweden make nine changes from their last match against Argentina. Falk, Lennartsson, Sandberg, Bennison, Seger, Jakobsson, Janogy, Schough and Blomqvist are replaced by Musovic, Bjorn, Andersson, Rubensson, Angeldahl, Rytting Kaneryd, Asllani, Rolfo and Blackstenius.
The US, meanwhile, make two changes with Trinity Rodman and Emily Sonnett starting in place of Rose Lavelle (who is suspended for accumulated yellow cards) and Lynn Williams.
The team news is in!
US starting XI: Naeher – Fox, Ertz, Girma, Dunn – Sonnett, Sullivan – Rodman, Horan, Smith – Morgan
Sweden starting XI: Musovic – Bjorn, Ilestedt, Eriksson, Andersson – Rubensson, Angeldahl – Rytting Kaneryd, Asllani, Rolfo – Blackstenius
I will update you on any changes from their last games next.
Earlier today the Netherlands booked their spot in the quarter-finals where they will play Spain:
Preamble
Hello and welcome to Sweden v USA where both will be battling it out for a spot on the quarter-finals. The US are attempting to win the World Cup for the third time in a row but have not shown the usual high quality fans would expect.
It has been an underwhelming outing for the back-to-back champions thus far with dejected expressions shown on their faces after a 0-0 draw with Portugal saw them through to the knock-out stages. It was the first time they had not at least won two of their group stage matches.
Sweden, meanwhile, have been deadly from the set piece – especially through Amanda Ilestedt. The team have looked threatening throughout but are also vulnerable as South Africa went 1-0 up against them in the group stage.
Before anything else though the team news will be announced, stay tuned for updates.
