Australia’s Matildas spoiled Sweden’s party in the third-place match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, beating them 2-0 in front of a sold-out crowd of 50,000 fans at Brisbane Stadium on Saturday.
In the opening period, Fridolina Rolfo netted the sole goal that the Swedes would require via a penalty kick, while in the latter half, Kosovare Asllani contributed the second goal with a remarkable strike.
Australia finishes in fourth place at the Olympics in Tokyo, marking their second consecutive top-three finish in the tournament’s history. The Australian women’s team, which has never been able to secure an Olympic gold medal or a World Cup, is given a victory by defeating Sweden, making them the most successful team in women’s history.
Here are three key points to remember from the match on Saturday.
Game performance.
Asllani’s goal was a beautiful sight to behold.
At the top of the box, Captain Asllani displayed enough composure to pick out a wide-open Stina Blackstenius, who initially blocked a lightning-fast counterattack by the Swedes. However, Australia was able to equalize and go ahead with an hour and a half remaining.
Turning point.
In the match against Sweden, Arnold Mackenzie made a mistake by easily giving the Aussie goalkeeper a chance to go up and score a goal. However, the defender Matildas tripped Blackstenius in the box, which changed the game.
Key stat.
If there were any doubts beforehand about how badly coach Peter Gerhardsson and coach Tony Gustavsson wanted to win this game, they both considered fielding the exact same starting lineups in their respective semifinal matches against England and Spain.
It is the first occasion since 1999 that the teams competing in the third-place match went with unchanged elevens from the semifinals.
What lies ahead for Australia?
The result of Saturday’s third place game remains unchanged — which was attended by Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese. The proud nation Down Under hosted their first-ever World Cup, where the Matildas played.
In the long term, the U.S. And Canada, along with Brazil, can form a squad that is capable of competing for titles with the best European teams — currently ranked 10th in the world by FIFA. It is evident that a new generation of players has been greatly inspired by the Matildas’ impressive run to the four final. It is clear that this event would have a lasting impact after the conclusion of the month-long competition, and all co-hosts hope for it.
The Australian federation will be able to leverage the tangible benefits of this summer’s success in the Olympics in Paris to reinvest the money into creating additional revenue streams and greatly increasing the marketability of the Matildas. This will enable them to see the next spot on the podium as a wholly realistic goal.
What does the future hold for Sweden?
The Swedes deserve a ton of credit for their approach to this game, as their talent and immense pride speaks volumes about their existence within the program. Although they have never won the bronze and have always been the bridesmaid in the last four World Cups, they have consistently proven themselves as a team.
Sweden continues to be one of the most consistent and top-performing teams in the women’s game, serving as a reminder that this World Cup is no exception. While several other decorated veterans may have their last go-round, Asllani included, they could potentially make their way to France next summer, or perhaps even further down the line. The Yellow and Blue team will eventually get their chance.