2023 World Cup third-place playoffs: Sweden vs Australia – Match preview, live stream, kick-off time, prediction, team news, lineups
The 2023 Women’s World Cup has been the biggest and best yet. Tournament co-hosts Australia will need to pick themselves up from their disappointment in the semis to battle it out for a bronze medal.
The third-place playoff will see the Matildas face Sweden, whose tournament hopes were ended by Spain.
2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup fixtures for Saturday 19 August
You can watch Sweden v Australia live on ITV1 from 8:30 am.
Match Preview
It’ll be a tough match, but neither side has anything to lose and must throw everything they have for the third-place glory. Both teams need to pick themselves up and refocus. The Matildas have the advantage of the home crowd, but Sweden have had an extra day of preparation. We think it’ll be a tight game but think Sweden, who knocked out Sweden and Japan, might just have a bit more to see the win.
Sweden preview
Sweden cruised through the group stage then knocked out the reigning champions USA in the Round of 16 and tournament favourites Japan in the quarter-finals.
They fell just short in the semis when they met Spain.
Wolfsburg forward Rebecka Blomqvist looked to have sent the tie to extra time after she found the net in the 88th minute to cancel out Salma Paralluelo’s opener.
But Spain and Sweden were only level for 93 seconds before Olga Carmona produced a superb-long range strike which went in off the crossbar, securing Spain’s place in the final and ending Sweden’s dreams of lifting the trophy.
Sweden have lost three of their four semi-final appearances at the Women’s World Cup but have emerged victorious in all three of their playoff games.
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Australia preview
The Matildas have had quite the home tournament – capturing the nation’s heart during the journey. They fought back to avoid elimination from the group stages to make their way all the way to the semis.
The team were, for most of the tournament, without their star player, captain and the poster girl of the tournament – Sam Kerr. Kerr was ruled out for much of the tournament with a calf injury but played a full match in the semis, where she scored a blinding goal.
The Round of 16 saw the Matildas ease past Denmark by a 2-0 scoreline, before winning their dramatic penalty shootout in the last-16 with France before being beaten 3-1 by England.
The England game saw Sam Kerr score an incredible goal in the 63rd minute to equal the scoreline after England’s Ella Toone struck a wonder strike to put the Lionesses in front.
Kerr’s goal had the whole stadium – mostly Australian fans – go wild. But just 8 minutes later Lauren Hemp found the goal that put England ahead. A goal by Alessia Russoin in the 86th minute would bring the scoreline to 3-1 – ending any hopes the Matildas fans had of taking it to extra time.
But whilst they may not get their hands on the trophy this time, the Matildas have put women’s football on the map in their country. A massive 11.15m people tuned in to watch them in the semis, making it the most-watched tv show in Australia on record.
The Matildas still have the chance to cap off a memorable campaign on a positive note, and no doubt they will give it all they have on Saturday.
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Team News
Sweden head coach Peter Gerhardsson is expected to select the same starting XI for the fourth consecutive fixture.
As a result, Blomqvist will have to settle for a place among the substitutes despite coming off the bench to score against Spain.
Amanda Ilestedt is an unlikely contender for the Golden Boot, with the central defender currently one goal away from Japan’s Hinata Miyazawa, who is leading the way with five goals.
As for Australia, Manchester City defender Alanna Kennedy is a doubt after missing the semi-final defeat through illness.
If Kennedy is unable to feature, the experienced Clare Polkinghorne will retain her place in central defence alongside Clare Hunt.
After finding the net on her first start of the Women’s World Cup, Kerr will be looking to round off the tournament with another goalscoring display.
Sweden possible starting lineup:
Musovic; Bjorn, Ilestedt, Eriksson, Andersson; Angeldal, Rubensson; Rytting Kaneryd, Asllani, Rolfo; Blackstenius
Australia possible starting lineup:
Arnold; Carpenter, Hunt, Polkinghorne, Catley; Raso, Gorry, Cooney-Cross Foord; Kerr, Fowler
WTX Sport predicts Sweden 3-2 Australia
We expect and hope this match is fast-paced and exciting with plenty of goals and some more Sam Kerr spectaculars. But Sweden have faced the big teams this tournament and we think they’ll have just a bit more on their side to win.