Caitlin Murray, ESPN
AUCKLAND, Brandnew Zealand — As Abba’s “Mamma Mia” rang out round Eden Terrain, the Swedish avid gamers walked across the perimeter of the stadium, waving, smiling, dancing. Sweden had knocked out the ultimate excess former Women’s World Cup champion, Japan, out of this match, clearing the way in which for a brandnew winner.
It was once a sly and gritty 2-1 win on Friday, too, with Sweden’s press and physicality wilting the pretty ownership soccer Japan had displayed up so far. However up to this Sweden workforce is ready ways and execution, it’s additionally in regards to the vibes.
“We push each other at practice, and we really have fun outside the field,” mentioned ahead Sofia Jakobsson. “I just think we have a good chemistry in the group.”
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Sweden, after all, have carried out neatly in tournaments ahead of — they have been runners-up on the pace two Olympics, and runners-up on the 2003 Ladies’s International Cup. However this staff turns out to simply seeming to be clicking on the proper occasion.
“This is one of the first tournaments that I’m really enjoying off the pitch and also mentally,” mentioned defender Magdalena Eriksson. “There is a lot of pressure; you want to perform, you want to be at your best, but this tournament I’ve tried to be in the moment and be happy. That has helped me a lot, enjoying it, and I think many of us are.
“It’s so remarkable: We do like every alternative’s corporate and we do handiest get those uncommon moments to be in a majority of these tournaments. We need to be provide. We shouldn’t targeted at the unfavorable issues about being in a match — it’s an ideal enjoy and such a lot of public would wish to be in our sneakers.”
It’s a positive vibe that (forgive the comparison) feels a bit like the 2019 United States team that won the Women’s World Cup. There, the players in France took to calling their teammates “22 perfect buddies” and talked of enjoying each other’s company even when they weren’t required to hang out. It’s perhaps fitting, then, that Sweden’s statement win came against a Japan team that was at a tournament-best 14 goals scored and one conceded followed a difficult and emotional penalty-shootout win over the Americans.
Perhaps the baton has been passed.
“In Sweden, we’re truly, truly excellent at finding out from our reports and turning it into a favorable enjoy,” said Eriksson after beating Japan. “We fought to the sour finish towards the U.S., we gained on consequences towards such an skilled workforce, and that’s one thing we took a batch of energy from.
“It shows the professionalism across the squad that we managed to have this kind of performance today with having one less day of recovery, and also 120 minutes on our legs, and a long flight.”
This Japan aspect posed a novel problem for Sweden. The Nadeshiko had been as excellent at the ball as they’ve been off of it: they held simply 24% ownership of their admirable 4-0 over Spain, however virtually 60% of their 5-0 win over Zambia.
But Sweden gave Japan a problem they hadn’t but confronted. The Swedes have been smothering, urgent aggressively to win the ball and nearest breaking the alternative approach.
Sweden additionally promised ahead of the sport that they’d play games bodily towards Japan, they usually did, handing over crunching take on later crunching take on. Within the twentieth slight, as an example, Eriksson shoved Mina Tanaka to the farmland. A slight next, Elin Rubensson took unwell Aoba Fujino.
It was once a heartless sport plan that robbed Japan of the pretty ownership they most popular to play games with. When Japan discovered alternatives at the counter to fracture, they couldn’t. At halftime, Japan’s anticipated targets, or xG — a measure of shot founding and feature — was once 0. Sweden’s xG was once 1.57.
“We didn’t want them to have a lot of time on the ball because that’s when they’re best,” mentioned ahead Kosovare Asllani. “We went up high in the pressure, we were aggressive in the duels.”
In the meantime, Sweden performed precisely how they prefer to play games. Within the thirty second slight, they scored on a collection piece, as ordinary. (They now have probably the most set-piece targets of any workforce within the match.) Asllani lofted a separate kick into the field that goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita punched away. What adopted was once 4 opposed photographs till the ball fell thankfully in entrance of Amanda Ilestedt, who stepped in entrance of the Jap protection to fit it pace Yamashita.
A harsh ball-to-hand penalty on Fuka Nagano allowed Sweden to double their manage within the the 51st slight.
Japan had their very own alternative for a penalty within the 74th slight, when Riko Ueki have been aspiring to had been fouled within the field. Video replays, alternatively, confirmed obviously that it was once a dive and negative Swedish participant had touched her, however there was once negative video evaluate of the decision from the referees. Most likely with a touch of karma, Ueki stepped up and ignored the shot at the same time as Sweden goalkeeper Zecira Musovic was once overwhelmed.
It was once just a little cynical and unsightly from a Japan workforce that had differently been a pleasure to observe all over this match. By way of the occasion Japan’s Honoka Hayashi pulled a objective again within the 87th slight on a failed clearance from Eriksson, Japan didn’t glance prepared for a comeback. It is advisable nearly image the behind-the-scenes tone engineers teeing up their Abba track of selection.
If Sweden felt the power towards Japan, it was once imperceptible right here at Eden Terrain. This can be a Sweden workforce that it seems that is aware of learn how to store the temper shiny — in between video games, the players started a team cornhole tournament they’ve dubbed “The Alternative World Cup.” They’ve additionally performed desk tennis and video video games in combination age on the International Cup.
“The chemistry in the team is crucial for us,” mentioned Asllani. “We really, really enjoy being together. If you’re happy outside the pitch, it shows on the pitch. You trust each other off the pitch, you trust each other on the pitch.
“You wish to have to paintings on a lot of these issues and we do it day by day. That could be a large energy of the workforce.”
Now, Sweden must face Spain in the semifinals for a chance to reach the final, and it’s once more a chance to hear Abba playing in the stadium after the game.
The players, by the way, love hearing Abba whenever they win. Asllani does have a request, however, if Sweden wins again. “I really like ‘Lay All Your Love on Me,'” she mentioned, smiling.
