Only 120 minutes are waiting for goals, then the big spectacle from the point! The round of 16 between Sweden and the USA (5: 4 on penalties) at the Women’s World Cup on Sunday (August 6, 2023) offered high tension in the penalty shootout.
When the Scandinavians won against the defending champion, the very last attempt caused the big drama. The beginning was difficult at first.
Women’s World Cup: Stéphanie Frappart is very precise
At the beginning of the shootout, referee Stéphanie Frappart (39) brought the two goalkeepers to her side and made many gestures on the goal line to show what Zecira Musovic (27) from Sweden and Alyssa Naeher (35) from the USA were allowed to do – and above all, what not.
The meticulous Frenchwoman had apparently brought a whole prohibition catalog with her and spoke to the goalkeepers for an unusually long time, although they should already be familiar with the rules. After all, there are no differences to normal penalty situations during games.
Seconds later, US girl Andi Sullivan (27) made his way from the center circle to the point. In the meantime, Musovic grabbed a drinking bottle that apparently had a note on it about the preferences of the opposing shooters. But that didn’t sit well with the referee either.
Again Frappart went to Musovic, spoke to the England legionnaire from Chelsea in the conscience. The strict regiment was slowly but surely getting too colorful for him!
ARD commentator Bernd Schmelzer criticizes Frappart at the women’s World Cup
Now it was the Swede who gestured wildly and waved her arms annoyed. ARD commentator Bernd Schmelzer (58) also interpreted the player’s gestures as an uncomprehending reply to the referee’s announcement.
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“Musovic says: ‘I know now, that’s enough. I don’t want to have to explain it 30 more times, I actually want to concentrate on the penalty now. It’s enough’”, the reporter classified the strange scene. But when Frappart approached Musovic again seconds later, this time meaning her to stand with both feet on the goal line, Schmelzer also lost patience.
“She’s on the line,” he said angrily: “That’s maybe a bit exaggerated, on penalties. Doesn’t really have to do Frappart at all. That brings the goalkeeper out a bit. If not, just repeat.”
Only one remained completely relaxed in those seconds: US midfielder Sullivan was not at all impressed by the delay, followed the spectacle in front of her without expression – and, when the ball was finally released, confidently converted her penalty kick into the bottom left corner.
After all, Frappart was only the center of attention again at the very end of the penalty shoot-out: Keeper Naeher parried the attempt by Lina Hurtig (27) in the follow-up, but only caught the ball a few millimeters behind the goal line.
They – and the majority of the fans in the stadium – initially assumed it was a miss. After a brief trepidation during the 30-second VAR check, the referee finally confirmed the goal as valid and made Sweden’s quarter-finals entry perfect. Even with Musovic, the initial anger should have subsided immediately.
2023-08-08 05:08:55
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