MX23RW : Friday, August 6 21:10:36| >> :600:176629:176629:
Aug 6, 2021 at 1pm UK
Sweden WomenSweden Women
1-1
Canada WomenCanada Women
Blackstenius (34')
Asllani (105')
FT
(aet)
Fleming (67' pen.)
Beckie (27')
Canada Women win 3-2 on penalties

Preview: Sweden Women vs. Canada Women - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Friday's Olympic Games Women's Football clash between Sweden Women and Canada Women, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Sweden Women and Canada Women both have the opportunity to be crowned Olympic champions for the first time on Friday when they meet in the gold medal match at the Tokyo Games.

This year's competition is Sweden's second consecutive appearance in the gold medal match at the Olympics, while Canada earned bronze in 2012 and 2016.


Match preview

Madelen Janogy of Sweden celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates on July 27, 2021© Reuters

Peter Gerhardsson's side have a perfect record in Japan so far, winning five out of five games on their route to the final, scoring 13 goals along the way.

Their tournament could not have started better after a brace from Stina Blackstenius and a goal from Lina Hurtig sealed a convincing 3-0 win over world champions USA.

Sweden continued to go from strength to strength following that result and progressed into the knockout stages with ease, finishing five points clear at the top of Group G.

The quarter-final posed a seemingly tricky test for Sweden coming up against the hosts Japan, but they did not let home advantage defeat them and Gerhardsson's side cruised into the semi-final with a 3-1 win.

Up until the semi-final, Sweden had won all of their games by a margin of at least two goals, but Australia proved to be the most difficult opponent so far as a single strike from Fridolina Rolfo was all that separated the two sides.

Sweden will be looking to go one better than they managed five years ago when they lost 2-1 to Germany in the gold medal match, and players including Hedvig Lindahl, Magdalena Eriksson, Kosovare Asllani, Caroline Seger, Olivia Schough, Sofia Jakobsson and Blackstenius - who were all involved in that game - will need to use their experience to achieve gold this time around.

Adriana Leon of Canada celebrates after scoring their first goal with teammates on July 27, 2021© Reuters

Canada's Olympics this summer has seen many draws en route to the final, including two in the group stages against Japan and Great Britain.

A vital three points in their second group game against Chile, courtesy of a brace from Janine Beckie, was enough to ensure they only needed to avoid defeat against Team GB to progress into the quarter-finals.

Bev Priestman's side's first knockout game came against Brazil last week, when there was nothing to split the two sides after extra time so the game was settled by a penalty shootout, which was also a tight affair.

After the first four penalties for each team the score was tied 3-3 and the shootout went straight to sudden death, when Vanessa Gilles stayed calm under pressure to convert her spot kick and Stephanie Labbe became Canada's hero after saving Rafaelle's effort.

Despite a few disappointing defeats for USA this summer, they still pose one of the biggest challenges to international opponents and that is what Canada had to surpass to reach the final.

Vlatko Andonovski's side created many chances on Labbe's goal but Canada remained resolute, and 16 minutes from time Chelsea's Jessie Fleming converted a penalty kick to guarantee her nation a medal in Japan.

After two consecutive bronze medals at the Olympic Games, perhaps reaching the final feels like a win for Canada but they will certainly see themselves as a match for Sweden in what is likely to be a closely-fought contest.

Sweden Women Olympic Games Women's Football form:
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W

Sweden Women form (all competitions):
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W

Canada Women Olympic Games Women's Football form:
  • D
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • W

Canada Women form (all competitions):
  • D
  • D
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • W



Team News

Canada coach Bev Priestman reacts on July 27, 2021© Reuters

Sweden have been unchanged for the two knockout fixtures against Japan and Australia, and Gerhardsson is expected to name the same starting 11 for the final also.

Striker Blackstenius has four goals this summer and poses a big threat in front of goal for Sweden, while Rolfo, Asllani and Jakobsson will support the lone striker from midfield.

Sweden's back four consists of Eriksson, Nathalie Bjorn, Amanda Ilestedt and Hanna Glas, who all have experience at the top of the game having played Champions League football for their respective clubs.

Canada have also named the same lineup for their quarter-final and semi-final ties, using a form of a 4-3-3 shape which can change into a diamond midfield with Christine Sinclair dropping deeper.

The defensive line of Allysha Chapman, Kadeisha Buchanan, Gilles and Ashley Lawrence in front of goalkeeper Labbe are yet to concede a goal in the knockout stages and they will be hoping to continue that on Friday.

Sinclair has earned the right to be labelled as a Canada legend after making over 300 appearances and scoring 187 goals for her country, but she has not been as prolific this summer managing just one goal, although she brings more to the team than just goals with her experience being invaluable.

Sweden Women possible starting lineup:
Lindahl; Eriksson, Bjorn, Ilestedt, Glas; Seger, Angeldal; Rolfo, Asllani, Jakobsson; Blackstenius

Canada Women possible starting lineup:
Labbe; Chapman, Buchanan, Gilles, Lawrence; Quinn, Scott, Fleming; Sinclair, Prince, Beckie


SM words green background

We say: Sweden Women 2-1 Canada Women

Sweden edge the historic meetings between these two nations but the past is nothing to go by when it comes to a gold medal match at the Olympics, and both sides are very evenly matched in terms of quality and experience.

However, Sweden's results and performances have been more convincing and dominating than Canada, who have settled for many draws in Japan, and Sweden's experience from Rio 2016 could give them the edge on Friday.






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How you voted: Sweden Women vs Canada Women

Sweden Women
79.8%
Canada Women
20.2%
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The United States head coach Vlatko Andonovski (hc) coaches against the Mexico during the first half during a USWNT Send-off Series soccer match at Pratt & Whitney Stadium on July 6, 2021
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rhs 2.0
Olympic medal table header
CountryGold medalSilver MedalBronze MedalT
ChinaChina36261779
United StatesUnited States31363198
JapanJapan24111651
Great BritainGreat Britain18202058
Olympics flagRussian Olympic Committee17232262
Today's Olympic highlights header

Saturday's key events


ATHLETICS
· Team GB have three contenders in the women's marathon - Stephanie Davis, Jess Piasecki and Stephanie Twell (10pm)
· The women's high jump final includes Great Britain's Morgan Lake (11.35am)
· Jessica Judd and Eilish McColgan compete in the women's 10,000m final, but most eyes will be on world record holder Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia (11.45am)
· There is more British representation in the men's 1500m final as Jake Heyward, Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman bid for a place on the podium. New Olympic record holder Abel Kipsang of Kenya is among the favourites for gold (2.40pm)
· The women's 4x400m relay promises to be a thrilling affair, with USA favourites and Great Britain involved (1.30pm)
· After the women's it is the men's 4x400m relay final, with USA also among the front-runners for gold in that (1.50pm)

GOLF
· The women's golf tournament comes to a head, with USA's Nelly Korda holding a three-shot leading going into the final round (10.30pm)

DIVING
· Tom Daley overcame a slow start to qualify for the men's 10m platform semi-final (2am), and will hope to be part of the final as he bids for a second Olympic gold at Tokyo (7am)

BASKETBALL
· USA's domination of the basketball could continue in the men's gold medal match as they take on France (3.30am)

BEACH VOLLEYBALL
· Gold is up for grabs in the men's final as Norway take on the Olympic athletes from Russia (3.30am)

BOXING
· Gal Yafai has a date with destiny in the men's flyweight gold medal bout against Carlo Paalam of the Philippines (6am)

WATER POLO
· Spain and USA go head to head in the women's gold medal match (8.30am)

CYCLING
· After a masterful gold medal-winning display by Team GB's women on Friday, the men look to emulate their teammates in the madison final (8.55am)

BASEBALL
· The day of gold medal games continues in baseball as hosts Japan look to beat USA to the top prize (11am)

EQUESTRIAN
· Team GB will be gunning for more glory in equestrian when they take part in the jumping team final (11am)

HANDBALL
· A gold-laden Saturday also includes the men's handball gold medal match, with France facing Denmark (1pm)

VOLLEYBALL
· France are also involved in the gold medal match in the volleyball, taking on the Russian Olympic Committee in a bid for top spot on the podium (1.15pm)

FOOTBALL
· Two football giants compete for the gold medal in the men's final as defending champions Brazil take on Spain (2.30pm)

> Today's schedule in full
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