Sweden won’t back down against ‘physical’ Italy at Women’s World Cup

WELLINGTON – Captain Kosovare Asllani has warned that her Sweden team will not back down in the face of Italy’s physical approach when the two unbeaten sides clash at the Women’s World Cup on Saturday.

A victory for either will be enough to qualify for the knockout phase from Group G, but Italy-based Asllani said her team will first need to come through a rigorous examination.

Third-ranked Sweden dug deep and found a 90th-minute winner in their 2-1 win over South Africa in their opener, while the 16th-ranked Italy also left it late before beating Argentina 1-0.

A 2-2 draw between Argentina and South Africa on Friday leaves the two European teams as favourites to advance.

Experienced AC Milan midfielder Asllani – the only outfield Swedish player in Italy’s top flight – has warned her teammates to expect some old-fashioned Italian treatment in Wellington.

“I’m quite used to that type of football. It’s very focused on man-marking and we know that there will be tough situations,” the 33-year-old said.

“The duels are very important. We expect them to come in very close... but other spaces will open for us as a result.

“We never turn down the offer of a physical game, so we’re very much looking forward to it.”

Italy coach Milena Bertolini said her side have improved since their 2022 winless exit from the European Championship.

Beating Argentina was therefore a major boost, but she said they will need to do better against a Swedish side who picked up a World Cup bronze medal in 2019.

“We are about to play against a team that is a very high level, that is well rounded,” Bertolini said. “It has a physical intensity but also is very technical, so it’s the whole package.”

Sweden have contested all eight previous Women’s World Cups, with their best performance in 2003 when they lost the final to Germany. They have finished third three times.

Italy reached the quarter-finals in two of their three appearances.

In Group F, Brazil coach Pia Sundhage said on Friday the simplest way to beat France on Saturday was to be clinical, as they seek revenge against the team that eliminated them at the last World Cup.

Eighth-ranked Brazil blew away debutantes Panama 4-0 in a scintillating opening match in Adelaide, but they face a sterner test in Brisbane against world No. 5 France, held to a 0-0 draw by Jamaica in their opener.

A win would put the Brazilians through to the knockout phase.

“Not conceding goals is very important but it will be more important to score goals against France,” Sundhage said.

“To put away our chances is what it is all about.” AFP, REUTERS