Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson applauds fans after the team’s 1-3 defeat to England.Credit:Getty Images
It leaves Australia bound once again for Brisbane to contest a consolation play-off that,if won,will mean finishing in third place at an expanded 32-team tournament – an achievement scarcely imaginable three weeks ago.
“I actually said in the circle after the game,it’s an extremely short turnaround to that game,” Gustavsson said. “I know we’re emotional,but we have no time to dwell on this one. We have a bronze medal game to play. We need to be ready.
“They[Sweden] have 24 hours on us in terms of recovery,which might play a massive part of that game. But tonight also,we had 30 minutes more in the legs[than England] for extra-time last game. But that didn’t show in the second half of this game. So we’re tough. We’re fit. We dig deep. We have the support from the fans.”
Third-ranked Sweden,who placed third at the 1991,2011 and 2019 World Cups,won every group-stage match including 5-0 over Italy.
Peter Gerhardsson’s side thenknocked out reigning champions the United States via a penalty shootout in the round of 16,before defeating Japan in the quarter-finals and thenlosing 2-1 to Spain in the semis.
The Matildas have played Sweden numerous times of late,including November’s 4-0 friendly win and a scoreless draw in June 2021.