Sweden wants to assure their path to the knockouts with a win against Italy in their second group game at Wellington.
SWE-W vs ITA-W Match Details
Date: Saturday, 28 July 2023
Time: 13:30 (IST) / 20:00 (NZST)
Venue: Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
SWE-W vs ITA-W Match Preview
Amanda Ilestedt’s 90th-minute header from a corner completed a comeback victory for Sweden in their opening game against South Africa. Hildah Magaia gave the Banyana Girls the lead early in the second-half but the Swedes were given a lifeline when Lebohang Ramalepe missed clearance hit Fridolina Rolfo and went into the net on the hour mark. Overall, Sweden will not be happy with the manner of win against the 54th-ranked nation although they will be motivated by the mentality used to turn the result in their favor. The victory gives them a good chance to seal the deal with one match to spare if they secure three points more against Italy next. Having reached the knockout rounds at seven of the previous eight World Cup finals, Sweden will be up for the task. The only thing they will want to avoid is the poor first-half display in the first match. While set pieces will be important facing another strong unit, Peter Gerhardsson want to have more of an edge from open play with Kosovare Asllani dictating it. It was the 33-year-old’s corner that helped the team get a winning start to their campaign in the first place.
Italy also left it late and also had a hero of their own to bail them out in a highly competitive match against Argentina in the opener. Substitute Christina Girelli planted her header into the net in the 87th minute for the immense joy of the Azzurri faithful. The side remained unbeaten in their Women’s World Cup opener since their first participation in 1991. The win came as a significant boost for the team that didn’t win any of their games in the European championship last year. Remarkably, Milena Bertolini's side are enjoying a five games unbeaten run with four of those resulting a win. Italy have managed to keep clean sheets in the last three matches as well. Their momentum is vital ahead of the side ranked third in the FIFA rankings. Le Azzurri have never won against any European nation in this competition so will be determined to break that record. They are hoping to enter a successive last-16 stage with a victory but it will be a big challenge.
Recent Form (All Comp)
SWE-W: WDLDW
ITA-W: WWDWW
Recent Form (World Cup)
SWE-W: W
ITA-W: W
SWE-W vs ITA-W Predicted Lineups
SWE-W: Zecira Musovic; Nathalie Bjorn, Amanda Ilestedt, Magdalena Eriksson, Jonna Andersson; Filippa Angeldal, Elin Rubensson; Rytting Kaneryd, Kosovare Asllani, Fridolina Rolfo; Stina Blackstenius
ITA-W: Francesca Durante; Di Guglielmo, Elena Linari, Cecilia Salvai, Lisa Boattin; Manuela Guigliano, Giulia Dragoni; Barbara Bonansea, Arianna Caruso, Chiara Beccari; Cristiana Girelli
SWE-W vs ITA-W Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Durante (7)
DEF: Bjorn (9), Ilestedt (8.5), Boattin (8)
MID: Asllani (9), Giugliano (8), Angeldal (7), Kaneyrd (7)
FW: Girelli (7.5), Blackstenius (8), Rolfo (8.5)
Vice-captain: Fridolina Rolfo
Captain: Kosovare Asllani
