Women's World Cup 2023: Will Sweden triumph after reaching another semi-final?

Reaching the semi-finals of a large tourney is thing caller for Sweden.

An awesome 2-1 triumph implicit a highly fancied Japan booked the Swedes a last-four day with Spain adjacent Tuesday astatine the Women's World Cup.

Incredibly, it is the 4th large semi-final they person reached successful caller years.

After progressing to the past 4 successful France astatine the 2019 World Cup, wherever they were defeated by the Netherlands, Sweden besides reached the semi-finals of the 2020 Olympics and Euro 2022.

Despite going heavy successful those tournaments and adjacent reaching the Olympic final, wherever they were beaten connected penalties by Canada, they person travel distant without a rubric to amusement for their efforts.

Will they backmost up their performances astatine this World Cup by lifting the trophy successful Sydney connected 20 August?

"The show against Japan from the archetypal half, up until the past 15 minutes oregon so, that's the champion I've seen Sweden play," said erstwhile England defender Gilly Flaherty connected BBC 5 Sports Extra

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Sweden person qualified for their 5th semi-final astatine the Fifa Women's World Cup but person ne'er won the tournament

A sting successful the tail?

Sweden's champion effect astatine the World Cup came successful 2003, erstwhile they mislaid to Germany successful the final, but this clip they are aiming to spell 1 better.

The likes of Spain and England whitethorn beryllium seen arsenic favourites successful immoderate quarters, but Sweden are not to beryllium underestimated.

"Obviously we're not blessed with a semi-final, we privation to spell the full way," skipper Kosovare Asllani said aft the squad ranked fig 3 successful the satellite backed up their triumph implicit four-times satellite champions the USA with triumph implicit Japan.

"I judge powerfully successful my squad and we'll beryllium much than acceptable for Tuesday."

The exit of the 2011 champions Japan, pursuing the United States, Germany and Norway, means determination are nary erstwhile winners near and a caller sanction volition look connected the trophy aft the last successful Sydney.

Will it beryllium Sweden?

"I deliberation they had higher hopes successful the Euros past summertime and they've travel successful this tourney with cipher putting them successful among the favourites to triumph it," erstwhile England midfielder Fara Williams said connected BBC One.

"They've dismantled a precise bully and adaptable Japanese squad successful style."

Sweden brag Peter Gerhardsson said astatine his post-match quality league that his players were similar bumblebees due to the fact that they were each implicit the tract pressing the opposition.

"The players talked earlier to beryllium similar bumblebees," helium said earlier making a buzzing dependable and waving his hands to amusement a bumblebee successful flight. They talked astir this.

"I don't cognize if we person thing to prove, but arsenic a manager and arsenic players you are ne'er finished," helium said.

"You person to beryllium things each the time. It's exciting."

Sweden's extremity instrumentality defender

New Arsenal defender Amanda Ilestedt acceptable Sweden connected their mode with her 4th extremity of the tourney - which puts her associated 2nd successful the scoring charts - earlier Manchester City midfielder Filippa Angeldahl doubled the pb from the punishment spot.

Japan scored precocious done Honoka Hayashi but they could not unit an equaliser contempt playing 10 minutes of added time.

Ilestedt was asked afterwards if Gerhardsson mightiness play her further guardant against Spain adjacent week due to the fact that of her scoring streak.

"I've already asked him," she joked, earlier adding: "I similar playing arsenic a defender.

"I'm blessed arsenic agelong arsenic we're winning, but it's amusive that the shot is going successful too. It feels large to beryllium done to the semis.

"We played precisely arsenic we had discussed beforehand, sticking adjacent to the Japanese players and making it hard for them to play their game."

Coffee prohibition helps calm the nerves

One of Sweden's concealed weapons astatine this World Cup has been their set-pieces.

Eight of the 11 goals they person scored person travel from corners oregon free-kicks, either straight oregon aft opponents failed to clear.

Sweden's dead-ball set-ups are often decided by adjunct manager Magnus Wikman, who spends hours poring implicit ideas and past patiently drilling them with his players.

"Sweden cognize their strengths, and their strengths are from set-pieces," added Williams.

Former England defender Alex Scott, speaking connected BBC One, said: "They reacted quicker to each azygous ball. How assertive they were, connected the beforehand ft - it's similar we saw a wholly antithetic Sweden squad contiguous than we did against the USA."

Gerhardsson, who has managed the squad since 2017, gave each the plaudits to his players.

"I person been a manager for truthful galore years now, I person had specified incredibly skilled players," helium said.

"They are precise meticulous, ever funny and they ever springiness 100%, and during tournaments similar this we go much similar a nine team."

Gerhardsson was asked afterwards wherefore helium managed to stay truthful calm erstwhile Sweden scored against Japan.

"I've stopped drinking java connected lucifer days," helium said.

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