2023-08-19 12:56:18
2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup feature The Swedes, victorious thanks to Fridolina Rolfö and captain Kosovare Asllani, finish third in a World Cup for the fourth time.
The Matildas fail at the foot of the podium. Co-host country of this 2023 Women’s World Cup, Australia lost 2-0 to Sweden on Saturday August 19 in Brisbane. The Swedes, victorious thanks to Fridolina Rolfö (penalty in the 30th minute) and captain Kosovare Asllani (62nd), finish third in a World Cup for the fourth time after 1991, 2011, 2019.
This ultimate success heals the disappointment of the semi-final lost against Spain (2-1), a novice team at this level against which Sweden had never lost. Until this hitch, Amanda Ilestedt’s teammates had eliminated the last two teams crowned world champions, the United States in the round of 16 (0-0 after extra time, 5-4 pens), and Japan in the next round (2 -1).
If the Australians did not win this small final in front of their home crowd, they are achieving the best course in their history. Star Sam Kerr assured Friday that the Australian players had had “the most incredible four weeks of their careers”.
Popular enthusiasm
The popular enthusiasm, illustrated by national television audience records (17.15 million cumulative viewers for Australia-England), carried the 10th nation in the world to the last four of a World Cup for the first time. , in eight participations.
Both Australia and Sweden started the game with the same starting XI that started in the semi-finals. The match swung to the Swedes after a penalty signaled by video assistance to arbitration (VAR) for a foul by Clare Hunt on Stina Blackstenius.
Rolfö did not tremble against goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, heroine of the penalty shootout against France in the quarterfinals (0-0 after extra time, 7-6 on pens). Captain Asllani widened the gap after returning from the locker room. The AC Milan player, who passed through Paris SG, had already scored in the 2019 small final, against England (2-1).
The English face Spain on Sunday, in a final between two selections never titled in the competition. Some 75,000 supporters are again expected at Stadium Australia in Sydney for the culmination of the World Cup, where attendance records in Australian and New Zealand stadiums have been linked since July 20.
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