The tournament is starting soon, and so I'm opening some group discussion threads. I decided to go with the same format as in the past for the Olympics: threads for each group during the group stage and then we'll do individual match threads in the knockout rounds. All times are local. 21 July 2021 17:30: Sweden vs United States (Tokyo) 20:30: Australia vs New Zealand (Tokyo) 24 July 2021 17:30: Sweden vs Australia (Saitama) 20:30: New Zealand vs United States (Saitama) 27 July 2021 17:00: New Zealand vs Sweden (Miyagi Stadium, Rifu) 17:00: United States vs Australia (Kashima)
I won't be sad. We need to bring in new blood to the team. With the exception of Carly Lloyd, who looks like she is can play until she is 70, there needs to be more youth brought into the team. But I can see the hesitation of that since the players being replaced will have the experience of winning the last 2 WCs, 2019 being the most competitive toury yet. So I kinda do hope Sweden wins the group to show that we are no longer undefeatable. btw, for a bit of a laugh... The record she is talking about is not scoring for the national team.
Sweden - USA Referee (JPN) YAMASHITA Yoshimi Assistant Referee 1 (JPN) TESHIROGI Naomi Assistant Referee 2 (JPN) BOZONO Makoto 4th Official (ROC) PUSTOVOITOVA Anastasia Video Assistant Referee (VAR) (POL) RACZKOWSKI Pawel Assistant VAR (AVAR) (CHN) FU Ming Australia - New Zealand Referee (MEX) VENEGAS Lucila Assistant Referee 1 (MEX) CHAVEZ Mayte Assistant Referee 2 (MEX) CAUDILLO Enedina 4th Official (HON) BORJAS Melissa Video Assistant Referee (VAR) (URU) CUNHA Andres Assistant VAR (AVAR) (MEX) MIRANDA Erick
Very good referee, Yamashita, for the US/Sweden match by reputation. The 4th official, Pustovoitova, is also excellent Projections based on FIFA (Elo-ish) ratings: US (rating 2197) expected win pct (.745) over Sweden (rating 2011) Australia (1952) expected win pct (.754) over New Zealand (1757) Based on estimated performance ratings since 1/1/2020 US (performance rating 2196) expected win pct (.798) over Sweden (1957) New Zealand hasn't played a single official match since 1/1/2020 while Australia's performance rating has tailed off. Using Australia's performance rating (a mediocre 1890) and New Zealand's official rating (1757), the expected win pct for Australia is (.683). But it's hard to imagine New Zealand being able to perform at the level of their official rating with so little preparation over the last 1-1/2 years +.
25' MÅÅÅÅL!!!!STINA BLACKSTENIUS 🔥🔥🔥🇸🇪 1-0 🇺🇸 | #SWEUSA | #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/Ke0fJLrNwS— Svensk Fotboll (@svenskfotboll) July 21, 2021
We did it!The Olympic and Paralympic Games are coming back to Australia. #Brisbane2032@Olympics | @Paralympics | @Queensland | @brisbanecityqld | @ausgov | #SEQMayors | @AUSParalympics pic.twitter.com/6cPxTy32Hv— AUS Olympic Team (@AUSOlympicTeam) July 21, 2021
Yes, Blackstenius scored, but the chance she wasted later while 1-on-1 vs Naher made me cringe! Should definitely have been a goal and, more in general, Sweden should be 2 or 3 goals ahead. Let's hope this doesn't mean that USA will somehow end grabbing a lucky draw in 2nd Half. They were close to it already with that Lavelle's post at 45'.
Wow: What a half by Sweden. Completely bossed the game and terrorized the U.S. back line on counters, but Blackstenius and Jakobsson fumbled away SO many chances. They were each in ideal positions to score, after great runs, and then waited too long to shoot; Jakobsson would have been in on goal on a counter but drifted offside--shouldn't have happened, and Rolfo could have scored had she chipped the ball instead of shooting it on the ground. With some better decision-making Sweden could have had 3 goals. We'll see if Sweden can maintain their form in the second half when the U.S. ramps up the pressure.
55' JAAAAAA!!!Stina igen!!! Vi har 2-0 mot USA! 🙌🇸🇪 2-0 🇺🇸 | #SWEUSA | #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/lYWW4CfyM3— Svensk Fotboll (@svenskfotboll) July 21, 2021
73' Mål igen!! Inhopparen Lina Hurtig nickar dit 3-0! 🤯🇸🇪 3-0 🇺🇸 | #SWEUSA | #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/GJotwscYJL— Svensk Fotboll (@svenskfotboll) July 21, 2021
Sweden with a super-impressive performance--and it's no fluke: they are talented and well-coached. They carved up the U.S. today.
Very strong by Sweden. Peter Gerhardsson has taken this team to a different level. This is probably Sweden's best ever team. But I can remember at least three times in Olympic history where the eventual winners have lost a game in the group stage. This must be a wake-up call for the Americans, and they can of course bounce back.
Funny that was the player said before this games, well they didn't say it was Gerhardsson who caused it (as a Swede he probably would have been embarrassed if they did). Even players like Seger that played in our WNT like forever said it was the best Swedish WNT she been part of.
I maintain this is due to Gerhardsson. It just shows how important the head coach is in football, because most of these Swedish players have been around since forever, but Gerhardsson is really bringing the best out of this player material. And there is a strong bench. Sweden can go all the way, but can't celebrate too much too early.
Can not argue with that, the year he was in charge of Bällinge in Damallsvenskan was their best year ever, but then he went back to coaching men until he got this position.
20' GOOAAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!It's @Tameka_Yallop!!! 🇦🇺 1-0 🇳🇿 #AUSvNZL pic.twitter.com/i65FYWAvrz— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) July 21, 2021
33' GOOAALLL!!!It's our captain, @samkerr1! 🇦🇺 2-0 🇳🇿 #AUSvNZL pic.twitter.com/OcBW8I2MqB— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) July 21, 2021