Sweden did what the US couldn’t: It received the objectives it wanted, secured the win it wished, and marched towards the sport everybody anticipated.
Propelled by a second-half header by Rebecka Blomqvist and a late penalty kick by Elin Rubensson, Sweden earned a 2-0 victory in Hamilton, New Zealand, that despatched Argentina out of the World Cup and the Swedes right into a extremely anticipated spherical of 16 recreation towards the Individuals on Sunday in Melbourne.
It is going to be joined within the spherical of 16 by South Africa, which surprised Italy, 3-2, with a objective by Thembi Kgatlana two minutes into second-half harm time.
The objective despatched South Africa to the knockouts for the primary time. It can face the Netherlands on Sunday in Sydney.
The larger showcase that day, although, would be the United States-Sweden matchup that had loomed as a risk for weeks. It actually ought to come as no shock: The groups will meet for the sixth straight World Cup, and for the seventh time general within the event.
The Individuals have received 4 of the earlier 5 conferences, together with a 2-0 victory within the group stage 4 years in the past. However Sweden ran circles round the US two years later on the Tokyo Olympics.
Its principal benefit over the US this time, although, could also be momentum. Sweden has appeared fearsome to date at this World Cup, successful all three of its first-round video games and outscoring its opponents by 10-1.