2023-08-19 10:47:38
Sweden won third place in the World Cup on Saturday after beating Australia in the “little final”. As in 2019, the Swedes pocket the bronze medal.
Published on: 08/19/2023 – 12:47
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Third place for Peter Gerhardsson’s players. Sweden won the World Cup bronze medal for the fourth time in its history by beating co-organizers Australia (2-0) on Saturday August 19 in Brisbane, on the eve of the final between England and England. ‘Spain.
After 1991, 2011 and 2019, the Scandinavians again finished in third place in the prestigious tournament, with a record of four small finals won out of four.
Fridolina Rolfö (30th from the penalty spot) and captain Kosovare Asllani (62nd) confirmed the Swedes’ domination.
This ultimate success heals the disappointment of the semi-final lost against Spain (2-1), a novice team at this level against which Sweden had never lost.
Until this hitch, Amanda Ilestedt’s teammates had eliminated the last two teams crowned world champions, the United States in the round of 16 (0-0 after, 5-4 on pens) and Japan in the next round (2-1 ).
Highest World Cup finish for Australia
Despite the loss, this is the best ranking for Australia at a World Cup. The “Matildas” were aiming for the title at home, but they lost against stronger than them in the semi-finals, England, reigning European champions (3-1).
Star Sam Kerr assured Friday that the Australian players had had “the most incredible four weeks of their careers”.
The popular enthusiasm, illustrated by national television audience records, carried the tenth world nation in the last four of a World Cup for the first time in eight participations.
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Australia, like Sweden, started the game with the same starting XI that started in the semi-finals. The match swung to the Swedes after a penalty signaled by video assistance to arbitration (VAR) for a foul by Clare Hunt on Stina Blackstenius.
Fridolina Rolfö did not flinch against Australian goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, heroine of the penalty shootout against France in the quarterfinals (0-0 ap, 7-6 pens). Swedish captain Kosovare Asllani widened the gap after returning from the locker room. The AC Milan player, who passed through Paris SG, had already scored in the 2019 small final, against England (2-1).
The English face Spain on Sunday, in a final between two selections never titled in the competition.
With AFP
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