Ultimate Clash: Sweden vs Spain in Women's World Cup Semi-finals - Who Will Reign Supreme?

Sweden has navigated through penalty shootouts, goal-line clearances, and VAR controversy to reach the semi-finals of the Women's World Cup.

On Tuesday, they will have an opportunity to demonstrate their worthiness of advancing further as they face Spain, a team that qualified early for the tournament despite their off-field troubles.

Despite scoring 15 goals in five tournament games, Jorge Vilda's team suffered a significant setback in their winning streak with a 4-0 loss to Japan. Maryam Clark investigates the reasons behind why the 'Blagult' will effortlessly identify and address these flaws.

A fluid system with fluid players

Sweden have displayed tactical versatility this summer, seamlessly transitioning between a 3-4-3 and a 4-3-3 formation. This adaptability has fueled their attacking prowess and determination.

In the blink of an eye, their defensive line swiftly transforms into an aggressive offensive force, often spearheaded by either Kosovare Asllani or Fridolina Rolfo, both of whom possess exceptional skills as a dynamic No 10 playmaker.

Stretching opposition defences with complex, interchangeable styles is a norm - players are not afraid to slip in and out of shape.

Their 2-1 victory over Japan was a perfect microcosm of that.

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Can Sweden continue to impress at the World Cup and make it to the final? Nathalie Bjorn's strategic move from the back line to the midfield disrupted Japan's attempts to regain possession in crucial areas.

The Everton defender typically operates as a right-back for her club, but she seamlessly transitions between various positions within the squad. This is what makes Sweden such a formidable team, as their players' versatility is unmatched, and predicting their individual roles proves to be a challenge. However, one thing is certain: adaptability is never a concern for them.

Spain know their preferred possession-based style of football will only hold for a while. If they're to win this game, they will need a few different tricks up their sleeves.

Experience in abundance

However, their players have a wealth of experience and an impressive number of goal assists and appearances under their belt, ranging in the hundreds from front to back.

Zecira Musovic received meticulous training from Emma Hayes throughout the season. As the first-choice goalkeeper for Sweden, she benefits from having the squad's most experienced player, Hedvig Lindahl, as her backup. Musovic's exceptional performance in the match against the United States, which included her crucial role in the intense penalty shootout, proved to be pivotal.

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The Swedish World Cup performance has been dominated by Zecira Musovic, who has displayed her commanding skills.

Despite their best efforts, Lindsey Horan, Alex Morgan, and Sophia Smith were unable to overcome the remarkable goalkeeper, whose exceptional performance secured victory for Sweden.

Former Chelsea captain Magdalena Eriksson is a formidable force in defense. With her five Women's Super League titles and 100 international caps, she is a pivotal player for her national team. Not only does she excel in defensive plays, but she also proves to be essential in counterattacks. In fact, during the match against Japan, Eriksson displayed her prowess with four contributions to open-play, shot-ending sequences.

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In midfield, Asllani and Rolfo are supported by Seger, the most experienced player on the national team, with over 230 appearances. It is highly probable that this World Cup will be her last.

The 38-year-old has only been able to play limited minutes due to a calf injury. However, Arsenal fans can find comfort in the fact that Lina Hurtig, Stina Blackstenius, and occasionally Amanda Ilestedt have sufficient experience in top European leagues to compensate for this setback. This will undoubtedly boost morale for the upcoming WSL season.

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Spain defeated Japan in the quarter-finals and advanced to the semi-finals, where they will face Sweden. Can they surpass their previous achievements? According to Swedish women's football writer Mia Eriksson, they certainly can.

She said, "I refrain from jinxing anything as every game in the World Cup becomes challenging when you reach this stage. However, at present, Sweden has regained its true form, exhibiting their tactical versatility and adaptability to dismantle and disrupt their opponents, making them prepared to confront any adversary."

The 'Fridolina Rolfo' factor

What is baffling is the lack of attention given to Rolfo during this tournament, an oversight that is unforgivable considering Sweden's reliance on her for their attacking strategies.

Having achieved a remarkable continental treble with Barcelona, the talented forward has consistently performed exceptionally on the grandest stages, making her contributions impossible to ignore.

Peter Gerhardsson created an opportunity in the Swedish line-up and she took full advantage, playing a crucial role in her team's victory over the USA and ending their hopes of a 'threepeat'. In the match against Japan, Rolfo maintained her impressive performance by consistently pressuring Yoshimi Yamashita's defense and contributing to Ilestedt's goal, causing chaos in their defensive setup.

Can Spain prevent her from getting too close or from passing the ball seamlessly to the versatile front trio? It's quite challenging.

Being among the initial defenders when not in control, the 30-year-old has the ability to disrupt opponent's counterattacks and effectively distribute the ball to her teammates.

Considering that Spain struggle with a low, compact block,

How will Sweden line up against Spain?

she could play a crucial role in unlocking their defense.

How will Sweden line up against Spain?

Musovic is anticipated to be the preferred goalkeeper, and she will probably have a resolute back four in front of her, consisting of Jonna Andersson, Eriksson, Ilestedt, and Bjorn.

What is the schedule?

To complete the midfield, Elin Rubensson and Filippa Angeldal can join forces, while Asllani, Rolfo, Blackstenius, and Johanna Kaneryd will contribute to the attacking lineup.

The first semi-final between Spain and Sweden is scheduled to take place on August 15 in Auckland. On the following day, August 16, Australia and England will clash in the other semi-final at the Accor Stadium in Sydney. Lastly, the final match will be held at the same stadium on August 20.

A third-place play-off will be played the day before the final on August 19 in Brisbane.