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What the USWNT can learn from past games against Sweden

By Clemente Lisi

BRASILIA, BRAZIL - AUGUST 12: Carli Lloyd of United States reacts after her late got goes wide during the Women's Quarter Final match between United States and Sweden on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Mane Garrincha Stadium on August 12, 2016 in Brasilia, Brazil. (Photo by Steve Bardens-FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
BRASILIA, BRAZIL - AUGUST 12: Carli Lloyd of United States reacts after her late got goes wide during the Women's Quarter Final match between United States and Sweden on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Mane Garrincha Stadium on August 12, 2016 in Brasilia, Brazil. (Photo by Steve Bardens-FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) /
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There’s some bad blood between the USWNT and Sweden. Here’s a look at some past games and what the U.S. can learn going into Thursday’s World Cup contest.

It’s time for revenge.

Three years after Sweden bounced them out of the 2016 Olympics, the United States has a chance to avenge that defeat to close out the group stage at the Women’s World Cup.

“We want to win every game,” U.S. coach Jill Ellis said after her team downed Chile 3-0. “That’s where we’re at, and that’s what we want to do.”

The Americans were eliminated in the quarterfinals following a penalty-kick shootout (the game ended 1-1 after overtime) after the Swedes put on a masterpiece defensive display to push the game to the shootout. It was the first time since women’s soccer had been included at the Olympics starting in 1996 that the U.S. had failed to reach the medal round.

Hope Solo, in goal for the U.S. in that game, made some career-ending comments afterwards, saying Sweden’s defensive tactics was like playing “a bunch of cowards.” U.S. Soccer eventually terminated Solo’s national team contract for making those comments, ensuring she never play again for the national team.

This time, the much-anticipated contest at the Stade Oceane in La Havre, along France’s north coast, will determine who wins Group F. A draw would suffice for the Americans to win the group, but the players said they always play to win. Both teams have already qualified for the knockout stage.

At the World Cup, the U.S. holds a 3-1-1 all-time record versus Sweden. In their last 10 meetings, the U.S. is 3-4-3.

A clear pattern emerges. The U.S. will need to tighten its defense, be aware of free kicks and fear conceding a penalty kick. Here are three past defeats the U.S. can learn from ahead of Thursday’s game.

2016 Rio Olympics: Sweden 1, USWNT 1 (Sweden wins on PKs)

This is the game that showed the world the U.S. were beatable. After 120 minutes and the score tied at one, Sweden prevailed on a penalty-kick shootout.

Sweden did play wonderful defense that day, exploiting the counterattack. In the end, it did what any inferior side would do: resort to defensive play in order to squeeze out a result. They got lucky on penalties and were the victors that day.

2015 World Cup: Sweden 0, USWNT 0

Sweden was the only team the U.S. could not defeat on their way to winning the World Cup title four years ago.

Again, the Swedes put on an epic defensive display during this group-stage match. It was a back-and-forth showdown with plenty of scrappy play. Both defenses shined that evening, part of a pattern when these nations meet, in a game that ended in a just draw.

2011 World Cup: Sweden 2, USWNT 1

The only time Sweden defeated the U.S. at a World Cup finals came in 2011 in Germany.

The group-stage defeat (which forced the U.S. to play Brazil in the quarterfinals, a game they ended up winning in epic fashion). This was the first time the U.S. had lost a game during the World Cup’s first round. Sweden’s goals came off a penalty kick and free kick did the U.S. in that day. Free kicks will again matter when these two sides meet.

Next. Who will the USWNT play in the round of 16?. dark

At this World Cup, it matters whether the USWNT finished first or second in their group. The United States is on a potential collision course with host nation France, winners of Group A on Monday, in the quarterfinals should both nations get that far as expected.

That means coach Ellis has to figure out what her best course of action to take. Beat the Swedes and the United States tops Group F and plays Spain in the round of 16. Lose, and the U.S. would come in second and end up in the other half of the bracket. Under that scenario, the U.S. would end up on the opposite side of the bracket from France and face the runner-up of Group E (either the Netherlands or Canada) in the round of 16.

Ellis has given playing time to all its 20 field players in the first two games at this tournament, something the Swedes took notice of and saw as preparation for the game against them.

Sweden, silver medalists at the Rio Olympics, has had a strong tournament. Ranked No. 9 in the world by FIFA, the Swedes are also looking to make a deep run at this World Cup. Sweden are coming off a 5-1 victory against Thailand.

“You can’t overthink this,” said Ellis, adding that there was no “dream path” to the July 7th final in Lyon. “Deciding to come second or manipulate a score? I just think that can be dangerous.”