A Lina Hurtig penalty, saved by Naeher but finally validated by technology, ended the hegemony of the USA in the Women’s Soccer World Cup. Sweden qualified for the quarterfinals and will face Japan after a surreal penalty shootout where VAR played a leading role in putting an end to a team that had no rival in the last two decades and that now sees how, with the growth of women’s football globally, it has lagged behind. The almighty United States, champion of four World Cups, bid farewell to Australia and New Zealand for the first time in their history before the semifinals after a match in which the Nordics asserted the initial 0-0 scoreline to take the game until the shots from eleven meters.
The lack of aim punished the world champion, who did not find a way to overcome Zecira Musovic, a Serbian goalkeeper who plays for Sweden out of gratitude to the country that helped her family. The 21 shots on goal by the Americans, who have Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe or Trinity Rodman, daughter of the legendary Chicago Bulls basketball player Dennis Rodman, as great stars, demonstrated their dominance, but were not enough to beat a solid Swedish team.
In the other round of 16 match played this Sunday, the Netherlands defeated South Africa, thanks to goals from Jill Roord, who has four goals in the tournament, and Lineth Beerensteyn, one of the most attractive teams at an offensive level, but the brilliant performance of Daphne Van Domselaar, the Dutch goalkeeper, nullified all their options.
It was the first time that the surprising African team had reached the knockout phase of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and was rudely awakened from sleep by the Europeans, who will meet Jorge Vilda’s Spain next Friday in the quarterfinals. final. The world runners-up made good predictions before the revelation of the tournament.
2023-08-06 14:33:41
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