Spain 2-1 Sweden
Hello and welcome to this morning’s liveblog on a huge day for Sweden and Spain.
It’s set to be a fascinating encounter.
Spain are technically better and arguably have superior individual players, but Sweden have more experience at this level — it’s their third semi-final appearance in the last four World Cups whereas La Roja are making their first appearance in the final four.
Sweden undoubtedly had the more difficult passage to the semis, requiring impressive wins over USA and Japan, while in the knockout stages, Spain enjoyed a comfortable 5-1 defeat of Switzerland and a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Netherlands after extra time.
Who do you think will go through?
Poll Results:
Confirmation of the two starting XIs…
Spain: 23. Cata Coll 2. Ona Batlle, 4. Irene Paredes 14. Laia Codina 19. Olga Carmona 6. Aitana Bonmati 3. Teresa Abelleira 11. Alexia Putellas 8. Mariona Caldentey 10. Jennifer Hermoso 17. Alba Redondo
Sweden: 1. Zecira Musovic 2. Jonna Andersson,13. Amanda Ilestedt 6. Magdalena Eriksson, 14. Nathalie Bjorn 16. Filipp Angeldal 23. Elin Rubensson 19. Johanna Kaneryd, 9. Kosovare Asllani, 18. Fridolina Rolfo 11. Stina Blackstenius
We’re underway…
Signs of early Spanish nerves, as Laia Codina gives the ball away cheaply deep in her own territory.
Stina Blackstenius can’t capitalise though and ends up producing a tame effort easily saved by Cata Coll.
It’s been a scrappy start.
Spain as expected are dominating possession and controlling the play, with Sweden sitting back and looking to hit them on the counter-attack.
Spain are really starting to up the tempo and put Sweden under the cosh now.
A period of sustained pressure ends with Olga Carmona firing a shot from distance narrowly wide.
Still no clear-cut chances created.
Sweden have defended diligently, seriously limiting the space for Spain’s attackers to exploit, while sporadically offering a threat down the other end.
Aitana Bonmati lofts an inviting ball into the area that Jennifer Hermoso can’t quite get her head on.
Jorge Vilda’s side continue to probe and they’re getting closer.
Sweden will surely struggle to maintain this level of concentration and discipline as the game develops.
Caldentey puts in a dangerous cross that Hermoso can’t quite steer towards goal.
Spain have had 58% possession so far and continue to look the better team.
Danger for Sweden as Putellas escapes her marker on the right-hand side of the area.
She then fires the ball across the area but Magdalena Eriksson is in the right place to head it clear for a corner.
Aitana Bonmati gets a sight at goal but can’t trouble the goalkeeper, as her shot from the edge of the area goes a few inches wide.
For all their possession, it’s those kinds of efforts that Spain have largely been restricted to in the opening half.
The best chance of the game so far falls to Sweden.
Carmona gives the ball away in a dangerous area.
Nathalie Bjorn then puts in a looping cross that finds Fridolina Rolfo, but Cata Coll gets down well to make a rare save from her opponent’s low volley.
Moments later, Coll has to be alert again, parrying a corner before Spain eventually manage to clear it away following a goalmouth scramble.
HALF-TIME: SPAIN 0-0 SWEDEN
So half-time and we are no closer to discovering who will meet England or Australia in the final.
It’s been tight as expected, with Spain enjoying the majority of the possession and playing the better football while struggling to create genuine chances.
In a manner akin to their last-16 match against USA, Sweden have not been especially impressive going forward, but they have managed to stay in the game thanks in large part to their impeccably organised backline.
And while they have invariably looked second best, Peter Gerhardsson’s side had the best chance of the half, with Fridolina Rolfo forcing a decent save from Cata Coll on the brink of half-time.
The second half has begun…
Clever play from Mariona Caldentey, who carries the ball a couple of yards before dinking the ball through for the onrushing Alba Redondo.
However, Zecira Musovic reads the situation well and gets to the ball ahead of the Spanish attacker.
While chances remain at a premium, it feels like the game is becoming more open now.
Sweden are getting more numbers forward and playing with a greater sense of ambition, which in turn will likely lead to more joy for Spain down the other end.
Spain make a change.
Putellas, who was not 100% fit going into this tournament, is replaced by 19-year-old winger Salma Paralluelo, who scored the 111th-minute winner in their victory over the Netherlands.
Johanna Kaneryd gets in behind the Spanish defence but her cross is parried to safety by Cata Coll.
Moments later, Alba Redondo’s cross is headed over by Parallels, though the difficult angle means it was a half-chance at best.
It’s end-to-end stuff at the moment.
Mariona Caldentey has a free kick on the edge of the area, but her shot comes off Elin Rubensson and deflects harmlessly wide for a corner.
Just 22 minutes of normal time remains, with extra time and penalties starting to look a distinct possibility.
So close!
Hermoso’s cross into the area causes problems.
Redondo gets a toe on it but the ball looks to be drifting wide before Paralluelo resues it and Redondo, who is on the ground following her initial effort, is presented with a second chance, but she kicks it inches wide from an unconventional position.
It’s Redondo’s last act of the game, as she’s replaced by 22-year-old Atletico Madrid forward Eva Navarro.
Double change for Sweden.
Rebecka Blomqvist and Olivia Schough replace Blackstenius and Kaneryd.
SPAIN 1-0 SWEDEN (PARALUELLO 81)
The teenage substitute has potentially made a match-winning impact.
Hermoso’s cross is not properly dealt with by the Swedish defence.
It falls to Paralluelo, who fires the ball low and first time into the corner of the net.
There was a Spain player in an offside position potentially blocking the goalkeeper Musovic’s eyeliner, but after a VAR check, the goal stands.
SPAIN 1-1 SWEDEN (BLOMQVIST 88)
SPAIN 2-1 SWEDEN (CARMONA 90)
What a finish to this game!
First, a hopeful ball into the box is headed on by Hurtig for substitute Blomqvist, who coolly slots home from close range.
Moments later, a corner is played short to Carmona, whose audacious effort from far out finds the net after Musovic tries and fails to tip it over.
It’s Spain’s second attempt on target and second goal — the Swedish goalkeeper will be disappointed at not being able to keep that out.
We’re into seven minutes of stoppage time…
Here’s a look at all the goals…
🇪🇸 1-0 🇸🇪
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) August 15, 2023
Paralluelo finishes a loose ball to the net and Spain have one foot in the World Cup final
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📺 Live on @RTE2 and @RTEPlayer#FIFAWWC #WWC2023 pic.twitter.com/A9OKbAcOeY
🇪🇸 1-1 🇸🇪
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) August 15, 2023
Sweden are level! Substitute Blomqvist with a superb half-volley with two minutes to play
📱 Updates https://t.co/25maEywAiD
📺 Live on @RTE2 and @RTEPlayer#FIFAWWC #WWC2023 pic.twitter.com/7FKWUZeiUU
🇪🇸 2-1 🇸🇪
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) August 15, 2023
Two goals in 90 seconds! Spain lead again as Musovic is caught out by Carmona's long-range effort
📱 Updates https://t.co/25maEywAiD
📺 Live on @RTE2 and @RTEPlayer#FIFAWWC #WWC2023 pic.twitter.com/5eOzfb2vWp
FULL-TIME: SPAIN 2-1 SWEDEN
That’s that.
What a breathless finish.
Sweden will be kicking themselves, having worked so hard to get back in the game, they immediately conceded what was a very avoidable goal.
Spain probably just about deserved it overall on the balance of play.
They played the better football against a dogged Swedish team.
The match could perhaps best be described as a slow burner.
While it was often frustrating to watch with both sides cancelling each other out, the dramatic final 10 minutes were certainly worth waiting for.
Right, that’s all from me for now.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
We’ll have more reaction on the site shortly.
