Beaten semi-finalist, Sweden and Australia lock horns for the third-place match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 on Saturday.
SWE-W vs AUS-W Match Details
Date: Saturday, 19 August 2023
Time: 13:30 (IST), 18:00 (ACT)
Venue: Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane
SWE-W vs AUS-W Match Preview
A chaotic last 10 minutes of the semifinal encounter between Spain and Sweden decided the match in which La Roja progressed to their first-ever Women’s World Cup final with a 2-1 victory. When substitute Rebecka Blomqvist volleyed in the 88th-minute equalizer for Pete Gerhardsson’s team to cancel out Salma Paralluelo’s opener only minutes ago, the game was thought to be moving into extra time. But then a stunning winner from Spain’s left-back Olga Carmona right after from a corner took away all hopes. So close and yet so far for Sweden again as their curse of suffering elimination from the semifinal stage continued with this their fourth in the Women’s World Cup. They experienced the same in the Euros last summer and in the finals four years ago. Aiming for a bronze medal finish as they did in the inaugural edition, 2011 and 2019 is the only option for them in the tournament again. The Blue and Yellow will take on a familiar foe in tournament co-hosts Australia for the third-place game having defeated them in the Olympics two years ago. Sweden will also battle the Matildas for the fourth time in the tournament. They are unbeaten against them in the finals, with the last Women’s World Cup knockout encounter in 2011 resulting in a 3-1 victory.
Australia will hope to put an end to that run of the Swedes to give the home fans something to cheer about. Their hope to reach a historic Women’s World Cup final was dashed by England in their first-ever semifinal appearance. The returning Sam Kerr’s rocket to level the scores after Ella Toone’s stunner in the first half was not enough as strikes from Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo took the game away from them. The record goalscorer also had two decent opportunities to restore parity in the game but could not convert. It was heartbreak for Matildas who wished to go far and win the silverware which could have shattered both on-field and audience records. Those could be set again if Australia ends the tournament with a medal around their neck by winning the third-place match against Sweden. This will be their highest finish ever in the Women’s World Cup history if they do so. Tony Gustavsson’s team will surely want to add to their unforgettable achievement in this tournament so far having lost just two of the last nine games in the finals. Their only win in seven meetings against Sweden came in the last one played in 2022. A 4-0 victory with the front three of Mary Fowler, Catlin Foord and Sam Kerr scoring. The repeat of such a performance will be a dream scenario here.
Recent Form (Women’s World Cup)
SWE-W: LWDWWW
AUS-W: LDWWLW
SWE-W vs AUS-W Team News
Sweden is expected to be unchanged from their defeat against Spain with Amanda Ilestedt hoping to challenge golden boot contender Hinata Miyazawa. The centre-back has already scored four and needs to bag a brace to overtake the midfielder as Japan is eliminated. Despite scoring three times with twice off the bench, Rebecka Blomqvist will continue to play second fiddle to Stina Blackstenius who continues up front.
For Australia, Alanna Kennedy missed the semi-final tie with England due to illness and is on the sideline once again for the third-place match. The defender is suffering delayed concussion symptoms from the quarterfinal tie against France. Her absence continues to be a blow for the team as the experienced Polkinghorne starts in her place. Sam Kerr earned her first start of the tournament coming back from a calf injury and will continue to lead the line.
SWE-W vs AUS-W Predicted Lineups
SWE-W: Musovic; Bjorn, Ilestedt, Eriksson, Andersson; Angeldal, Rubensson; Rytting Kaneryd, Asllani, Rolfo; Blackstenius
AUS-W: Arnold; Carpenter, Hunt, Polkinghorne, Catley; Raso, Gorry, Cooney-Cross, Foord; Kerr, Fowler
SWE-W vs AUS-W Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Arnold (Cr - 8, Pts - 206)
DEF: Illestedt (Cr - 9, Pts - 477), Kennedy (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 228), Catley (Cr - 9, Pts - 293)
MID: Raso (Cr - 9, Pts - 288), Gorry (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 213), Angeldal (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 165), Rubensson (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 202)
FW: Fowler (Cr - 7.5, Pts - 156), Kerr (Cr - 9, Pts - 73), Rolfo (Cr - 9, Pts - 171)
Vice-captain: Amanda Illestedt
Captain: Sam Kerr
