Spain aims for their first appearance in the Women’s World Cup final but an experience Sweden team stands in their way.
SPA-W vs SWE-W Match Details
Date: Tuesday, 15 August 2023
Time: 13:30 (IST), 18:00 (ACT)
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
SPA-W vs SWE-W Match Preview
Spain thought their 81st-minute penalty converted by Mariona Caldentey against Netherlands’ resilience was enough to take them through to the first semifinal in their tournament history. A lot of their earlier chances were prevented by the reliable Dutch keeper Van Domselaar with Alba Redondo hitting the post and Esther Gonzalez’s goal ruled out for offside. VAR also overturned Netherlands’ penalty after Irene Paredes’ challenge on Lineeth Beerensteyn was deemed to be no foul. However, Stepanie van de Gragt turned from villain after conceding La Roja’s spot-kick for a handball in the area to hero after smashing the equalizer in seconds of 14 minutes of added time. Even though the Dutch climbed back into the game and could have won it if Beerensteyn did not miss opportunities to score, Spain hold their nerve to finally found the winner in the 111th minute of extra time through substitute Salma Paralluelo. The mentality switch from their 4-0 thrashing by Japan in the last group game has been remarkable. Now, they are just one game away from another historical feat in reaching the final of the Women’s World Cup. Spain faces an even more challenging team in Sweden in the last four with their solidity a danger to their top-scoring side with 15 goals label. Nevertheless, taking a big leap from the past by winning four of the five matches in the tournament after just one in the first two finals should get them through to the promised land.
Sweden made headlines by knocking out holders USA in an unforgettable last-16 shootout and went on to add to their reputation by knocking out probably the best team of the tournament, Japan in the quarterfinals. The match ended in a 2-1 thriller where Peter Gerhardsson’s team dominated for 70 minutes with centre-back Amanda Ilestedt scoring from a set-piece for the fourth time in the tournament and Filipa Angeldal dispatching an early second-half penalty. The game looked dead and buried until the Nadeshiko came alive in the last quarter or so of the match. Substitute Riko Ueki hit the crossbar from the sport-kick but Japan got their reward of late pressure with another player off the bench, Honoka Hayashi pulling one back. Not before, Fujino’s free-kick hit the bar and deflected off Zecira Musovic and the upright to somehow stay off the line. The Sweden keeper also thwarted late efforts to eliminate another past winner of the competition. The Blue and Yellows are now at the stage that haunted them several times in the match including four years ago. The only victory in the semi-finals came in 2003 when they ended as runners-up as the highest-ever achievement in the competition. There is no reason to not believe this team is in high spirits with all these successes having the potential to do the same again or better this time in the competition.
Recent Form (Women’s World Cup)
SPA-W: WWLWW
SWE-W: WDWWW
SPA-W vs SWE-W Predicted Lineups
SPA-W: Coll; Hernandez, Paredes, Ivana, Batlle; Bonmati, Abelleira, Hermoso; Paralluelo, Caldentey, Redondo
SWE-W: Musovic; Bjorn, Ilestedt, Eriksson, Andersson; Angeldahl, Rubensson; Rytting Kaneryd, Asllani, Rolfo; Blackstenius
SPA-W vs SWE-W Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Musovic (Cr - 8, Pts - 169)
DEF: Bjorn (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 136), Ilestedt (Cr - 9, Pts - 461), Battle (Cr - 8, Pts - 200)
MID: Redondo (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 250), Bonmati (Cr - 9, Pts - 354), T Abelleira (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 283), Asllani (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 87), Hermoso (Cr - 9, Pts - 354)
FW: Rolfo (Cr - 9, Pts - 151), Caldentey (Cr - 8, Pts - 153)
Vice-captain: Aitana Bonmati or Jennifer Hermoso
Captain: Amanda Ilestedt or Aitana Bonmati
