Sweden W vs Australia W prediction: WORLD: World Cup Women – Play Offs betting tips on match 2023-08-18 08:00.
A thrilling end to their 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup (WWC) semi-final with Spain ultimately ended in defeat for Sweden, with the joy of Rebecka Blomqvist’s 88th-minute equaliser quickly turning to despair as Olga Carmona Garcia grabbed the winner just a minute later. That painful loss sent the Swedes into this third place play-off match for the bronze medal in what is now a rather familiar situation for Swedish teams, having finished third in the first WWC back in 1991, and in 2011, as well as in the most recent prior to this in 2019.
Each of those third-place play-off triumphs saw them net within the opening 30 minutes whilst scoring eight goals in the process, so don’t rule out another fast. Yet such quick starts haven’t been typical of them at this tournament, with Sweden failing to net in the opening half hour in any of their games en route to their final outing.
If Sweden were heartbroken, then Australia were shattered after they were beaten by England in front of their own fans at a packed out Sydney Olympic Stadium. They now head to Brisbane to compete for minor honours and no matter what happens, the Matildas have already inspired a nation and brought the women’s game on by securing what is their best-ever performance at a WWC.
No fewer than five of the Australian lineup from the semi-final already ply their trade in the English Women’s Super League, so the quality of the Matildas simply cannot be understated. However, such quality hasn’t equalled goals at the business end of the tournament as the Aussies have scored just once from open play across the last 230 minutes of action, disregarding stoppage time.
Players to watch: Although Swedish defender Amanda Ilestedt (G4) put in her worst display of the tournament according to Flashscore ratings last time out (6.2), she could still finish the WWC as joint, or outright top scorer with a goal or two here. Trying to get the better of her will be Australia’s talismanic striker Sam Kerr, who scored arguably the goal of the tournament in her only full 90’ across the tournament against England.
Hot stat: Just one of the last five WWC third-place games needed extra time, whilst four also saw both teams score.