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Spain and Sweden played out a thrilling Women’s World Cup semi-final and it ended in familiar fashion for the Swedes.
Football: After eighty minutes of deadlock, Spain and Sweden have both scored in the space of seven minutes to close the epic first semi final.
Following a rollercoaster semi-final against Spain, the Swedish women were left heartbroken once more after the Spaniards secured a 2-1 victory.
It is just the latest chapter in a long history of failure at the business end of major tournaments for Sweden, including the World Cup, European Championships and Olympic Games.
In total, Sweden’s women’s team has reached the semi-finals or better 16 times in those three major tournaments combined.
Sweden’s forward Fridolina Rolfo (right) is consoled by Spain’s Mariona Caldentey at the end of the dramatic semi-final. (Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP)
Only once in that four decade span have they finished as champions and it was the very first instance, winning the 1984 European Championship with a penalty shootout win over England.
Since then the country’s female football history is littered with heartache.
“Sweden’s semi-final curse strikes again,” commentator Simon Hill said during the game. “Are they destined to always be the bridesmaid?”
Mia Erikson, a user on X, formerly Twitter, also posted a tweet she credited as being said by Sweden striker Kosovare Asllani.
“I’m tired of crying big tournament tears,” Erikson wrote of Asllani, apparently on Swedish television.
That quote from Kosovare Asllani on Swedish Viaplay just now will stay with me for a long time:
“I’m tired of crying big tournament tears.”
𥺗 Mia Eriksson (@mia_eriksson) August 15, 2023
Asllani herself has finished runner-up at the past two Olympic Games and was part of the third-place team from the 2019 World Cup.
At the World Cup overall, the Swedes were runners-up behind Germany after an extra-time loss in the 2003 final. They have also finished third three other times, a position they will again have an opportunity to fill in this tournament.
A number of Swedish players were in left tears after the game as the latest missed opportunity began to sink in.
Spain now await the winner of Wednesday’s second semi-final between Australia and England, with the loser of that match to take on Sweden in Saturday’s third place playoff.
Against Spain, Olga Carmona’s stunning late strike gave her side a 2-1 win over Sweden to reach the Women’s World Cup final for the first time in their history.
The semi-final in Auckland seemed to be drifting towards extra-time before suddenly bursting to life when substitute Salma Paralluelo put Spain ahead with nine minutes left.
Rebecka Blomqvist equalised for Sweden in the 88th minute only for fullback Carmona, Spain’s captain, to score with a superb shot in off the underside of the crossbar from the edge of the box.
It has been a remarkable run for a nation who had never previously gone beyond the last 16 at a Women’s World Cup and for a team who had been in disarray in the months leading up to the tournament.
Swedish players react after full-time of the semi-final defeat to Spain. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
Sweden’s Rebecca Blomkvist (No. 15) embraces teammate Kosovare Asllani (9) after the final whistle. (Photo by Michael Bradley / AFP)
Fifteen Spanish players told their federation last September that they no longer wished to be considered for selection, principally out of unhappiness with coach Jorge Vilda, and only three of them returned for this World Cup run.
While their dream of World Cup glory remains alive, Sweden are left with a familiar feeling after going so far at another major tournament before falling short.
On top of its World Cup heartache, Peter Gerhardsson’s side also lost in the last four at the European Championship last year.
Sweden also finished with silver medals at the past two Summer Olympics, losing in the final to hosts Brazil in 2016 and Canada at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
– With AFP
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