Another main soccer match, one other acquainted feeling for the Sweden ladies’s group.
Following a rollercoaster semi-final in opposition to Spain, the Swedish ladies had been left heartbroken as soon as extra after the Spaniards secured a 2-1 victory.
It is simply the most recent chapter in a protracted historical past of failure on the business finish of main tournaments for Sweden, together with the World Cup, European Championships and Olympic Games.
In whole, Sweden’s ladies’s group has reached the semi-finals or higher 16 occasions in these three main tournaments mixed.
Only as soon as in that 4 decade span have they completed as champions and it was the very first occasion, successful the 1984 European Championship with a penalty shootout win over England.
Since then the nation’s feminine soccer historical past is suffering from heartache.
“Sweden’s semi-final curse strikes again,” commentator Simon Hill mentioned in the course of the sport. “Are they destined to always be the bridesmaid?”
Mia Erikson, a consumer on X, previously Twitter, additionally posted a tweet she credited as being mentioned by Sweden striker Kosovare Asllani.
“I’m tired of crying big tournament tears,” Erikson wrote of Asllani, apparently on Swedish tv.
Asllani herself has completed runner-up on the previous two Olympic Games and was a part of the third-place group from the 2019 World Cup.
At the World Cup total, the Swedes had been runners-up behind Germany after an extra-time loss within the 2003 remaining. They have additionally completed third three different occasions, a place they may once more have a possibility to fill on this match.
Quite a few Swedish gamers had been in left tears after the sport as the most recent missed alternative started to sink in.
Spain now await the winner of Wednesday’s second semi-final between Australia and England, with the loser of that match to tackle Sweden in Saturday’s third place playoff.
Against Spain, Olga Carmona’s gorgeous late strike gave her aspect a 2-1 win over Sweden to succeed in the Women’s World Cup remaining for the primary time of their historical past.
The semi-final in Auckland appeared to be drifting in direction of extra-time earlier than abruptly bursting to life when substitute Salma Paralluelo put Spain forward with 9 minutes left.
Rebecka Blomqvist equalised for Sweden within the 88th minute just for fullback Carmona, Spain’s captain, to attain with an outstanding shot in off the underside of the crossbar from the sting of the field.
It has been a outstanding run for a nation who had by no means beforehand gone past the final 16 at a Women’s World Cup and for a group who had been in disarray within the months main as much as the match.
Fifteen Spanish gamers informed their federation final September that they now not wished to be thought-about for choice, principally out of unhappiness with coach Jorge Vilda, and solely three of them returned for this World Cup run.
While their dream of World Cup glory stays alive, Sweden are left with a well-recognized feeling after going to date at one other main match earlier than falling quick.
On prime of its World Cup heartache, Peter Gerhardsson’s aspect additionally misplaced within the final 4 on the European Championship final yr.
Sweden additionally completed with silver medals on the previous two Summer Olympics, dropping within the remaining to hosts Brazil in 2016 and Canada on the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
– With AFP
Source: www.news.com.au
