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Preview: Australia Women vs. Sweden Women - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Monday's Olympic Games Women's Football clash between Australia Women and Sweden Women, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Australia Women take on Sweden Women in the Olympic Games semi-finals on Monday, with both sides desperate to win this competition for the first time in their respective histories.

The two teams already faced each other in the group stages, with Sweden running out 4-2 winners in a highly entertaining game.


Match preview

Team Australia embrace Australia player Sam Kerr (2) after she scored her second goal of the game to go ahead 2-1 during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Saitama Stadium on July 24, 2021© Reuters

Australia have proven to be one of the sides to watch at this summer's Olympics, having scored eight and conceded eight in their four matches so far.

The Matildas were involved in a topsy-turvy quarter-final against Great Britain Women on Friday, securing a first-half lead via Alanna Kennedy's 36th-minute strike, before Samantha Kerr sent the tie into injury time with an 89th-minute equaliser after Ellen White's brace had looked to be sending the Brits through.

With the first half of injury time approaching a close, Nikita Parris was tripped inside the penalty area, but Caroline Weir saw her tame penalty saved by Aussie goalkeeper Teagan Micah.

Instantly on the counter-attack, substitute Mary Fowler displayed superb skill to instantly kill a fizzed pass into her feet, before turning and firing a fierce effort which wickedly deflected beyond the reach of Ellie Roebuck and into the top corner.

Kerr struck for the fifth time this summer in the first minute of the second half, with White moving one ahead of her counterpart once more with five minutes remaining, but Tony Gustavsson's side held on to reach an Olympics semi-final for the first ever time.

Fridolina Rolfo of Sweden celebrates scoring their third goal with teammates on July 24, 2021© Reuters

The 47-year-old will be under no illusions regarding the task ahead of Australia on Monday, though, with Sweden arguably the most impressive team of the tournament so far.

Indeed, the Blue and Yellow are the only side to have won all four matches, including a solid 3-1 win over hosts Japan Women in Friday's quarter-final tie.

There was little to separate the opponents in an even first half, with Mina Tanaka cancelling out Magdalena Eriksson's early strike in the seventh minute.

However, Sweden showed their class after the break, with Stina Blackstenius bagging her fourth goal of the Games, before Kosovare Asllani's penalty sealed an appetising semi-final clash against Australia.

While the 2016 runners-up will rightly be favourites having beaten their forthcoming opponents in the group stage, they will be aware that fortune was arguably on their side on the day, with Kerr missing a penalty and the Matildas generally performing well below their best.

Australia Women Olympic Games Women's Football form:
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • W

Sweden Women Olympic Games Women's Football form:
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W



Team News

Madelen Janogy of Sweden celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates on July 27, 2021© Reuters

Kerr is undoubtedly the player who Sweden will be keeping closest tabs on, with five goals in four games a superb return from the striker.

The 27-year-old is only three caps shy of 100, and three goals short of 50, but she would likely trade it all for a first trophy with her country since winning the Asian Cup in 2010.

Gustavsson will be tempted to start the electric Fowler after her positive impact in the last round, but the 18-year-old will likely be utilised from the bench once again.

Sweden, meanwhile, benefitted from resting their top goalscorer Blackstenius in their final group game against New Zealand, with the 25-year-old looking fresh on her way to scoring the crucial second goal against Japan.

Peter Gerhardsson is unlikely to make any changes to his starting XI, with the likes of Hanna Bennison and Olivia Schough keen to make an impact from the bench if called upon.

Australia Women possible starting lineup:
Micah; Carpenter, Kennedy, Luik; Raso, Van Egmond, Yallop, Catley; Simon, Kerr, Foord

Sweden Women possible starting lineup:
Lindahl; Glas, Ilestedt, Bjorn, Eriksson; Angeldal, Seger; Jakobsson, Asllani, Rolfo; Blackstenius


SM words green background

We say: Australia Women 1-2 Sweden Women

Australia were only minutes away from crashing out against Great Britain, who it is probably fair to say are not quite as strong as Sweden.

As such, we expect the Swedes to edge out what is likely to be an entertaining affair. They look to have a little more quality across the park than the Matildas, who can be a little too reliant on Kerr.






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How you voted: Australia Women vs Sweden Women

Australia Women
30.0%
Draw
2.5%
Sweden Women
67.5%
40
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GB's Ellen White looks dejected after defeat to Australia at the Tokyo Olympics on July 30, 2021
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rhs 2.0
Olympic medal table header
CountryGold medalSilver MedalBronze MedalT
ChinaChina36261779
United StatesUnited States31363198
JapanJapan24111651
Great BritainGreat Britain18202058
Olympics flagRussian Olympic Committee17232262
Today's Olympic highlights header

Saturday's key events


ATHLETICS
· Team GB have three contenders in the women's marathon - Stephanie Davis, Jess Piasecki and Stephanie Twell (10pm)
· The women's high jump final includes Great Britain's Morgan Lake (11.35am)
· Jessica Judd and Eilish McColgan compete in the women's 10,000m final, but most eyes will be on world record holder Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia (11.45am)
· There is more British representation in the men's 1500m final as Jake Heyward, Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman bid for a place on the podium. New Olympic record holder Abel Kipsang of Kenya is among the favourites for gold (2.40pm)
· The women's 4x400m relay promises to be a thrilling affair, with USA favourites and Great Britain involved (1.30pm)
· After the women's it is the men's 4x400m relay final, with USA also among the front-runners for gold in that (1.50pm)

GOLF
· The women's golf tournament comes to a head, with USA's Nelly Korda holding a three-shot leading going into the final round (10.30pm)

DIVING
· Tom Daley overcame a slow start to qualify for the men's 10m platform semi-final (2am), and will hope to be part of the final as he bids for a second Olympic gold at Tokyo (7am)

BASKETBALL
· USA's domination of the basketball could continue in the men's gold medal match as they take on France (3.30am)

BEACH VOLLEYBALL
· Gold is up for grabs in the men's final as Norway take on the Olympic athletes from Russia (3.30am)

BOXING
· Gal Yafai has a date with destiny in the men's flyweight gold medal bout against Carlo Paalam of the Philippines (6am)

WATER POLO
· Spain and USA go head to head in the women's gold medal match (8.30am)

CYCLING
· After a masterful gold medal-winning display by Team GB's women on Friday, the men look to emulate their teammates in the madison final (8.55am)

BASEBALL
· The day of gold medal games continues in baseball as hosts Japan look to beat USA to the top prize (11am)

EQUESTRIAN
· Team GB will be gunning for more glory in equestrian when they take part in the jumping team final (11am)

HANDBALL
· A gold-laden Saturday also includes the men's handball gold medal match, with France facing Denmark (1pm)

VOLLEYBALL
· France are also involved in the gold medal match in the volleyball, taking on the Russian Olympic Committee in a bid for top spot on the podium (1.15pm)

FOOTBALL
· Two football giants compete for the gold medal in the men's final as defending champions Brazil take on Spain (2.30pm)

> Today's schedule in full
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Olympic Games Men's Football
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Coppa Italia
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League One
League Two
Scottish Championship
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Scottish League Two
Pre-Season Friendlies
Belgian Pro League
Swiss Super League
Russian Premier League
Ukrainian Premier League
Swedish Allsvenskan
Finnish Veikkausliiga
League of Ireland Premier
Ligue 2
Eerste Divisie
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Copa Diego Maradona
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