Sweden dives into Women’s World Cup action with the first group match against South Africa at Wellington on Sunday.
SWE-W vs SA-W Match Details
Date: Sunday, 23 July 2023
Time: 10:30 (IST) / 17:00 (ACT)
Venue: Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
SWE-W vs SA-W Match Preview
Finished third consecutively in the competition four years ago in France, Sweden hopes to do one better in Australia and New Zealand having not performed at their best in the Euros. The team and coach Peter Gerhardsson have remained consistent though with some underperforming stars wishing to flourish on the world stage. Particularly Fridolina Rolfo coming off a treble-winning season at Barcelona, scoring the winner in a thrilling Women’s Champions League final. Sweden have always been in the mix for the favourites but the side have not managed to live up to the tag in recent years. Although their bronze medal victory over England signed off an impressive campaign last time, their best finish since 2003 in the tournament. The group stages this time should not raise issues with Italy, Argentina and South Africa don’t seem to trouble them from gaining the top spot. However, Sweden cannot allow themselves to be complacent. The Blue and Yellow have good momentum on their side, losing just twice since the Lionesses knocked them out from the Euros last summer. Keeping clean sheets has been a problem for the team with only three in that period. Sweden fears their usual solidity is in a crisis like the 3-3 draw with Norway in the warm-up or 4-0 loss to Australia would suggest. They hope none of those come to haunt them in the winnable opener against South Africa on paper.
This will be South Africa’s second Women’s World Cup appearance after making it to 2019 but this time they will enter as the continent’s best. The team led by head coach Desiree Ellis won their first AFCON title last year in a remarkable way. They beat Morocco 2-1 in the final and also slewed fellow Women’s World Cup participants Zambia in the semifinals. Also, they topped the group containing record champions Nigeria so they have got fighting spirits in them. South Africa’s qualification to the finals was sealed when they move into the last four of the AFCON. Amid the joyous ride they have made, the Banyana girls are involved in a pay dispute with the federation causing disruption to the preparation of the main event. It led the senior team to sit out their send-off match against Botswana while the junior got thrashed 5-0 as the friendly could not be cancelled. However, it got resolved when billionaire and CAF president Patrice Motsepe stepped in. In the tournament now, South Africa will not wish a repeat of the previous edition when they ended dead last in their group losing every match. Desiree Ellis’ side have also not won against the Swede in any meeting so far, drawing once, as they get set for the opener of a challenging group again. With Argentina and Italy to face next, South Africa will also try to get at least the first point in the Women’s World Cup stage and score more than just one managed last time.
Recent Form
SWE-W: DLDWW
SA-W: WLWDW
SWE-W vs SA-W Predicted Lineups
SWE-W: Jennifer Falk; Nathalie Bjorn, Linda Sembrant, Magdalena Eriksson, Jonna Andersson; Hanna Bennison, Kosovare Asllani, Filippa Angeldahl; Sofia Jakobsson, Stina Blackstenius, Fridolina Rolfo
SA-W: Andile Dlamini; Lebogang Ramalepe, Noko Matlou, Bongeka Gamede, Karabo Dhlamini; Noxolo Cesane, Refiloe Jane, Kholosa Biyana, Linda Molthalo; Hildah Magaia, Jermaine Seoposenwe
SWE-W vs SA-W Head to Head
Played: 4
SWE-W won: 3
Drawn: 1
SA-W won: 0
SWE-W vs SA-W Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Falk (8)
DEF: Bjorn (9), Eriksson (8.5), Matlou (8)
MID: Jakobsson (8), Asllani (9), Cesane (8), Mothalo (8.5)
FW: Magaia (9), Blackstenius (8), Rolfo (8.5)
Vice-captain: Fridolina Rolfo
Captain: Kosovare Asllani
