Welcome to the semi-finals!
Tonight Spain and Sweden will battle for a spot within the FIFA World Cup remaining, whereas Australia will face England on Wednesday with the identical stakes on the road.
The two winners will face off within the remaining on Sunday, whereas the losers will play off for third spot on Saturday.
Follow alongside within the dwell weblog under to see how the match unfolds.
6.20PM CAGEY START FROM BOTH SIDES
The first shot of the sport was struck within the 14th minute as probabilities look to be coming scarcely on this semi-final.
The one shot of the match from lengthy vary did go near discovering the again of the web with Swedish keeper Zećira Mušović left crambling in direction of the underside proper nook, nonetheless the ball went simply large.
Spain’s model is already on present, amassing over 70 per cent of the possession and hitting their passes at 81 per cent, in comparison with Sweden’s 63 per cent.
6.00PM WE’RE AWAY AT EDEN PARK
Spain go into the conflict as favourites however Sweden knocked out the USA and Japan going into these matches as underdogs.
It’s set to be a extremely fascinating contest of two contrasting kinds of soccer, with Spain a extra technically good staff and Sweden a bodily powerhouse.
The Matildas will little question be following alongside intently to see who they’ll face within the World Cup remaining ought to they defeat England tomorrow night time.
Settle in and benefit from the semi-final motion!
5.15PM SPANISH STAR STARTS
The groups are out and Alexia Putellas is in for Spain.
The Ballon d’Or winner has been coming off the bench in latest matches however is again within the beginning XI tonight.
Olga Carmona is the opposite addition to the again 4 for La Roja.
Sweden are unchanged once more, beginning the identical 11 in 5 of their six World Cup matches together with this night’s recreation.
4.25PM KEY MATCHUPS TO DECIDE SECOND SEMI
Tomorrow night time Australia can be trying to be a part of the winner of Spain and Sweden’s semi-final once they tackle England in Sydney.
“It’s not coming home, it’s staying here”.
There has by no means been a greater time to beat England at ‘their own game’ than this Wednesday night time – in entrance of a bought out Stadium Australia.
It received’t be simple although – the Lionesses have numerous strengths, they’re the European champions in any case.
They are technically beautiful, extraordinarily comfy in possession and have nice squad depth. Alessia Russo is the hazard participant up entrance and he or she discovered her type at simply the fitting time, as has Lauren Hemp.
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3.20PM SWEDEN, SPAIN SET FOR CLASH OF STYLES IN SEMI-FINAL
First-time semi-finalists Spain face a extra seasoned Sweden on the Women’s World Cup on Tuesday, with a remaining towards England or co-hosts Australia the prize.
Spain and Sweden kick off at 6PM AEST at Eden Park in Auckland within the first semi-final, earlier than European champions England go into battle with Australia in Sydney on Wednesday.
The assembly in Auckland is a conflict of kinds — Spain’s superior approach and mesmerising passing versus Sweden’s extra bodily method and use of dead-ball conditions.
Sweden are into their third semi-final within the final 4 World Cups and regardless that they’ve by no means gone on to win the competitors, Peter Gerhardsson’s aspect imagine that have offers them the sting.
The Swedes additionally reached the final 4 of the European Championship final summer time, earlier than being soundly overwhelmed 4-0 by hosts and eventual winners England.
In distinction, this can be Spain’s debut in a World Cup semi-final.
“We have the benefit of experience,” Sweden captain Kosovare Asllani stated on the eve of the sport at Eden Park.
“We have gone far in the last few tournaments but I am particularly pleased with the way we have done it this time.
“We have won our matches in different ways and it shows the strength of this team.” Sweden, who dumped out holders the United States within the final 16 on penalties, have been one in every of solely three groups to progress from the group stage with an ideal three wins out of three.
England and Japan — overwhelmed by Sweden 2-1 within the quarter-finals — have been the others.
Sweden are notably lethal from set-pieces and in Amanda Ilestedt they’ve an unlikely contender for the match’s golden boot.
The towering Arsenal defender has 4 targets thus far, three together with her head. Gerhardsson has lauded the staff spirit inside his squad, saying they’ve the sort of togetherness often extra related to membership groups.
2.00PM MUTINY AND REBELLION THAT ALMOST TORE SPAIN APART
Spain’s first Women’s World Cup semi-final of their historical past is reward for years of sacrifice, veteran ahead Jennifer Hermoso says, admitting to “goosebumps” on the considered reaching the ultimate.
Opponents Sweden are regulars at this stage of the World Cup — with out ever happening to elevate the trophy — however for Spain they’re into uncharted waters.
“If you don’t feel any nerves before a game like this then something is not right,” the 33-year-old Hermoso stated on the eve of the semi-final in Auckland.
“It gives you goosebumps thinking about how close we are to the final, but first of all we have the game tomorrow and Spain will come out more determined than ever.”
Hermoso, who performs her membership soccer in Mexico, has been representing her nation for greater than a decade and received her a centesimal cap earlier within the match.
“Tomorrow’s game is the consequence of millions of training sessions, of so many moments we have been through, of spending time far from our families and loved ones, of so much sacrifice,” she stated.
“We have worked so hard to get here and I just want to enjoy it. I want the whole team to enjoy it and for the whole of Spain to be behind us.”
Spain and Sweden drew 1-1 in a pleasant final October, simply after 15 Spanish gamers instructed their federation they not wished to be thought-about for choice in protest at coach Jorge Vilda.
Vilda survived the riot and introduced three of the rebels with him to the World Cup.
“We have a (federation) president who reacted bravely, who backed me and my staff,” he stated on Monday.
“Now there is unity in the squad, everyone is getting on, they are ambitious and trying to enjoy every day.” One of the gamers who returned to the squad is midfielder Aitana Bonmati and he or she has been one of many standouts on the match.
Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson believes it could be a mistake to focus too intently on attempting to cease the Barcelona playmaker.
“The difficulty with Spain is that they have so many skilled players, whereas other teams might have just one or two stars, so that means making sure we mark them is very important,” he stated.
Originally printed as Spain v Sweden dwell rating World Cup semi-final: Alexia Putellas returns for La Roja
Source: www.news.com.au
