After the postponement of the 2020 Olympics, the US Women’s National Team are finally opening tomorrow against Sweden at 4:30am (ET). Sweden is lead by coach Peter Gerhardsson and star midfielder Caroline Segar. I’ve put together some quick notes for the much anticipated match-up, keeping in mind, it was this very same team who shocked the world by knocking out the USWNT in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Pre-Game Notes:
- The USA and Swedish will face for the 9th time in a world championship (6 World Cups and 3 Olympics), making Sweden the National Team’s most faced foe in Olympic and World Cup play. As I said above, in the quarterfinal stage of the 2016 Rio Olympics, Sweden knocked out the Women’s National Team in penalties. Needless to say, this matchup will be a much wanted revenge for the United States.
- So far in 2021, the USWNT have had a near perfect schedule (11-0-1), with their only tie of 2021 against Sweden.
- This will be the 42nd meeting between Sweden and the National Team, with the USA leading the all-time series 23-6-12. 7 of the last 8 meetings between these two teams have been decided by 1 goal or less. In this stint the USWNT is 3-1-4.
- 4 Swedish players have over 100 caps – Caroline Segar (215), Hedvig Lindahl (172 caps), Kosovare Asllani (148) and Sofia Jakobsson (123).
- In comparison, the USWNT have 9 players over 100 caps – Carli Lloyd (306), Becky Sauerbrunn (188), Alex Morgan (180), Megan Rapinoe (179), Tobin Heath (171), Christen Press (149), Kelley O’Hara (140), Crystal Dunn (116) and Julie Ertz (110).
- Sweden comes into the Olympics with a 4-0-2 record throughout 2021 and is ranked #5 in the world, having tied the USWNT and Australia both whom they will face in the group stage.
- After finishing 2nd in the 2016 Rio Olympics and 3rd in the 2019 World Cup, Sweden is the only team to enter the Olympics having placed top three in the last two world championships.
SWEDISH PLAYERS TO WATCH: The 35 yr old, Caroline Seger leads the midfield as one of Sweden’s best leaders and is crucial in their style of play. Kosovare Asllani is the top scorer on the roster with 38 career international goals, followed by Caroline Seger (29 goals), Sofia Jakobsson (23) and 25-year-old Stina Blackstenius, who has 17 goals in 64 career caps. In 2021, Blackstenius and Lina Hurtig lead Sweden with 3 goals a piece. Anna Anvegard, while young at only 24, has scored 8 goals in 19 appearances including 2 goals against the USWNT and could possibly be the future of this Swedish side.
In less than 24 hours, this game will be underway in Tokyo, Japan kicking off the Tokyo Olympics:)