Sports activities Information
The USA will hope to maintain its hopes of a three-peat alive when it faces Sweden within the spherical of 16 on Sunday.
AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Three powerhouse groups play on the second day of the Ladies’s World Cup knockout stage and a minimum of probably the greatest will likely be eradicated.
The USA is the two-time reigning event champions and ranked No. 1 on the planet. However their lackluster play within the group stage stopped the People from successful their group, which knocked them all the way down to second and a Sunday match in opposition to Sweden within the spherical of 16.
Sweden is ranked third on the planet and received its group by sweeping all three video games. The seventh World Cup assembly between the 2 groups — essentially the most frequent matchup in event historical past — will likely be performed in Melbourne, Australia.
Netherlands, in the meantime, is ranked ninth on the planet and faces South Africa in Sydney. The Dutch had been runners-up to the USA within the 2019 World Cup last.
“Every part is expounded to our ambition as a soccer nation,” Netherlands coach Andries Jonker stated by means of a translator. “Being a part of the top-10 within the rating, that’s my objective, and if you wish to obtain that, you could present one thing and we need to try this in our manner.”
US-SWEDEN
One of many prime gamers in ladies’s soccer will finish her World Cup profession after the match between the USA and Sweden.
Megan Rapinoe, the Golden Boot winner of the 2019 event with six targets and three assists for the People, has stated she’s going to retire after the World Cup. Similar for Sweden midfielder Caroline Sege r, who stated her fifth World Cup will likely be her final.
Each groups need to win Sunday to make sure their celebrity centerpiece can proceed within the event. For Seger, the World Cup is the one hole on her resume.
Seger’s 235 appearances for Sweden are essentially the most for any feminine participant in Europe, and though she has two Olympic silver medals and two World Cup bronze medals, Sweden has by no means received a serious event. Seger’s teammates don’t need to see her profession finish with out a probability to play for the World Cup title.
“We get very, very motivated by that,” defender Nathalie Bjorn stated. “We could have full deal with Sunday. We are going to do every part we are able to as a staff, as people, then we are going to ensure we knock out the U.S.”
The 38-year-old Seger has been struggling wit a calf drawback all 12 months and skilled alone within the two days of observe main into the showdown with the U.S.
Rapinoe, in the meantime, has taken on a smaller position for the People in her last event. Additionally 38, she was a substitute in the USA’ first and third video games of group play and didn’t get off the bench within the center match.
American striker Alex Morgan stated each Rapinoe and Seger have had “unbelievable” careers.
“I’m very optimistic about our possibilities tomorrow, however regardless, these are gamers which have actually modified the sport,” Morgan stated. “Not solely in Sweden and the U.S. however globally. Having been in a position to play with each of them, they’re nice teammates and have been leaders for therefore lengthy on the highest stage. They’re big impression gamers.”
The U.S. scored simply 4 targets within the opening stage, however Rapinoe stated she wasn’t overly involved about what has seemed to be a lackluster begin to the event — the staff nonetheless managed to advance. And she or he clearly didn’t need her World Cup journey to finish simply but.
“We acquired out of the group what we needed to get out of the group, which was to get to the subsequent spherical,” Rapinoe stated. “Clearly, we need to win the video games. Clearly, we need to play nice and rating a bunch of targets. And we didn’t try this. So we all know that that may be higher.”
The U.S. will play with out Rose Lavelle, who picked up her second yellow card of the event within the group stage finale and has to take a seat out in opposition to Sweden.
The People additionally skilled with out veteran defender Kelley O’Hara on Saturday.
Regardless of the U.S. staff’s struggles, Sweden isn’t anticipating something lower than the very best.
“We’re tremendous excited. We’re enjoying in opposition to the U.S., they’re No. 1 on the planet, you possibly can by no means underestimate them,” Sweden midfielder Kosovare Asllani stated.
NETHERLANDS-SOUTH AFRICA
Netherlands is attempting to complete one spot greater within the Ladies’s World Cup than it did in 2019, when the Dutch misplaced to the USA within the championship match.
Step one within the spherical of 16 is No. 54-ranked South Africa, which notched its first win in a World Cup in a group-stage finale. A 3-2 win over Italy superior the Banyana Banyana to the knockout stage for the primary time in staff historical past.
“They fought like warriors. They fought just like the heroines that we all know that they’re,” South Africa coach Desiree Ellis stated. “They fought to be traditionally remembered they usually’ve made historical past, not simply getting our first win, however going to the spherical of 16 and that’s freaking superb.”
That is solely the second World Cup look for South Africa, however its play within the group stage has the Banyana Banyana believing they will maintain their very own in opposition to the Dutch.
“Going into the spherical of 16, you notice that something is feasible,” captain Refiloe Jane stated. “It’s knockout levels. You need to carry on preventing as a staff, carry on reaching for each other and never lose sight of any of the probabilities that lie forward.”
For Netherlands, central defender Stefanie van der Gragt is hoping to increase her event as she plans to retire after the event.
“I defend with all that I’ve,” van der Gragt stated. “I do the very best I can for the staff.”
Jonker isn’t enthusiastic about van der Gragt probably making an early exit.
“We are able to win in opposition to all people, so we’re not supplying you with any consideration that (Sunday) is likely to be the final sport — by no means. She has to play a couple of extra video games,” Jonker stated.
Netherlands is anticipated to have Lineth Beerensteyn again after the striker missed two matches with damage, however it was unclear if Jonker would use the Juventus participant or stick with the identical lineup. The Dutch allowed just one objective in group play.
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