MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Recurrent rivals Sweden and the United States will satisfy at the time all over again at the Women’s Entire world Cup, but this time the stakes are greatly bigger.
The two-time defending winner People are struggling heading into the spherical of 16 match on Sunday in opposition to the Swedes, who they have played typically in equally the Entire world Cup and the Olympics.
“We normally uncover a way to participate in them in these major tournaments, so we know they’re a really good team. Just about every time that we play them it’s a significant fight,” U.S. captain Lindsey Horan explained in advance of the match in Melbourne, Australia.
The United States is vying for an unparalleled third consecutive Entire world Cup title, but skirted into the knockout round with only a person acquire in team perform. The People in america were being practically eliminated by Portugal on Tuesday — a stoppage time blast from Ana Capeta strike the write-up to maintain a – attract that pushed the People by.
The United States appears nothing like the staff that won the 2015 and 2019 titles. That American team pounced early on its opponents won all of its 7 matches in 2019.
This calendar year, the Americans have just 4 plans and mentor Vlatko Andonovski is integrating 14 newcomers earning their World Cup debuts.
Sweden has received all of its group matches at this Globe Cup and has outscored opponents 9-1. The staff capped the opening phase with a 2- victory around Argentina on Wednesday.
“It’s the Round of 16, they’re heading to be a superior side and it’s likely to be a tricky battle,” U.S. forward Lynn Williams said. “But (we’re) just largely concentrating on what we can do and what makes us distinctive, and with any luck , go out there and acquire this video game.”
The United States has performed Sweden 6 occasions in the team stage at the Environment Cup, most not too long ago in 2019 when the People received 2-. The United States went on to earn its report fourth in general title in the tournament.
In general, the United States has received 4 of those matches against Sweden, lost one and played to a scoreless draw in 2015.
But the Swedes have held the advantage at the Olympics in modern decades. The United States failed to medal at the Brazil Olympics in 2016 soon after being ousted by Sweden in the quarterfinals.
They played to a 1-1 attract right before Sweden highly developed on penalties, marking the earliest U.S. exit from an Olympics. Afterward, U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo brought about controversy by calling the Swedes “cowards” for bunkering in on defense.
Sweden also beat the People in america 3- in the team opener at the Tokyo Olympics. The loss snapped a 44-match U.S. unbeaten streak that experienced dated back again to January, 2019.
The Swedes knew they would deal with the United States right before their team final towards Argentina, so they have been in a position to relaxation their starters and employed 9 lineup adjustments in the group finale.
But Sweden has a single less day of planning than the People in america going into the Sunday match.
“If you are heading to go all the way, you are heading to have to play this form of opposition quicker or afterwards. And the U.S. are ranked No. 1. It may possibly be better to play them Sunday in its place of a semis or a closing,” Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson stated.
“There’s not something we can do about it,” he ongoing. “We’re participating in them on Sunday and we’ll do almost everything that we’re ready to mobilize, each in strength and above all, courage, which is some thing you have to do versus teams of that quality.”
The United States will be devoid of midfielder Rose Lavelle for the match mainly because she picked up a pair of yellow playing cards in group perform. Which is going to harm the Us citizens simply because Lavelle has been 1 of their couple power sparks.
She came off the bench in the second fifty percent of a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands and despatched a corner kick to Horan for the tying purpose.
The Us residents are hoping to be upbeat about where they stand: on the ropes experiencing a solid Swedish opponent.
“We don’t want to be disappointed in ourselves, we nevertheless manufactured it to the spherical of 16. Certainly we want to participate in better, we want to accomplish better, we want to entertain our U.S. followers much more,” Horan stated. “But the expectations are always heading to be there for this national team, and they are always heading to be good.
“We’re constantly likely to be in the force cooker and we love that. So, we just need to have to elevate our requirements, which we constantly do, and we go ahead and we go out and we do anything in our power to put together ourselves for this upcoming recreation.”
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