This Tuesday, Spain plays the most important game in women’s team history so far. At Eden Park in Auckland (10:00 a.m. Spanish time), a ticket to the World Cup grand final in Sydney will be played against 2019 World Cup runners-up Sweden. Style clash. Set ball strategy and physical strength versus passing and possession. The one who manages to impose himself and maintain it as long as possible will win.
Sweden was already starting out as one of the big favourites. He’s always been there in recent tournaments, struggling for a top spot, and is actually third in the FIFA rankings, behind only the United States and Germany, at which point both were eliminated from the World Cup.
Since that time Peter Gerhardsson Taking the helm in 2017, the Scandinavian team made a leap in quality, reaching Bronze at the 2019 World Cup, Silver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and semi-finalists at the final European Championships in England. And despite the fact that some of its earliest players like it Caroline Seger (38) or Sofia Jakobsson (33) -both doubts due to the discomfort in today’s match against Spain – they are no longer at their best, the generational change has not gone badly, Fragrant Blackstenius, Lina Hurtig And amanda illested at the peak of their career and above all a Fridolina Rolfö becoming an absolute leader.
guns
Sweden stands out with their counter attacks. Defensive forward positioning with very advanced fullbacks in the construction phase, he is an expert in mid-backs for his outside players and also – they are the best at this – on set pieces, with good shooters like Jonna Anderson And Kosovo Lion and great spikers (Rolfö, Blackstenius and Illested).
In fact, eight of his eleven goals in this World Cup came like this, 72.2%. “It’s part of the game, something we can work on a lot, but the physics that the players have helps us and we can use the fuse to win the game,” Gerhardsson said at the previous press conference. they hold the record for the best corner kick ever in the tournament: one in seven (13.9%) resulted in a goal.
Aware of the centimeter advantage of most teams in this World Cup—especially the remaining three teams—they are making maximum use of the offensive pass game, trying to prevent them from inflicting damage and strengthen them in defence. .
Sweden has an iron mentality typical of Scandinavian culture and is always a ‘plus’ for them in big tournaments. An emotional force that wins games.
Another of their main weapons is on target: Zecira Musovic. He was Sweden’s hero in their round of 16 against the United States and was named the ‘MVP’ of the match. The American team has finished countless times and has repeatedly faced the Chelsea goalkeeper, who is also a substitute. Tasting Collection.
Keys
However, unlike the Mallorcan, the Swedish-Bosnian goalkeeper’s footwork is his Achilles heel. It will be important to press high as they did against the Netherlands in the first half to see if Spain can steal their wallet.
‘Red’ should also take advantage of the empty spaces left behind by the Swedish fullbacks, and here it is. Salma Paralluelo It will have an important role if it starts out both as a starter and as a disgust.