Sweden ensured that it will be the United States’ opponent early Sunday morning with a 2-0 win over Argentina to clinch Group G.
Perhaps eyeing the USWNT, Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson changed nine starters for the Argentina game as Sweden entered with two wins in its first two games.
Rebecka Blomqvist broke a 0-0 tie in the 66th minute with the go-ahead goal and then Elin Rubensson made sure Sweden was going to get all three points with a 90th-minute penalty kick.
Sweden’s backups were very aggressive; the Swedes committed 21 fouls but had just one yellow card. Argentina mustered only two shots on goal as it ended the World Cup with a draw and two losses.
Sweden had a goal differential of +8 in its three group stage games and you shouldn’t put much stock in their odds at BetMGM for Sunday’s game. The USWNT is favored to win in regulation at +105 while Sweden is at +240 to win and a draw is at +230.
We’re comfortable saying those odds are designed to protect the house with so many Americans betting on the USWNT throughout this World Cup. Given the way the USWNT has played in this World Cup so far, Sweden is the better side to back. The game kicks off at 5 a.m. ET on Fox.
South Africa got a surprising win over Italy thanks to Thembi Kgatlana’s goal in the 92nd minute.
Kgatlana gave South Africa a 3-2 win and pushed South Africa into the knockout rounds and eliminated the Italians.
Arianna Caruso put Italy up 1-0 in the 11th minute and tied the game at 2-2 with a penalty in the 74th minute. South Africa tied the game at 1-1 thanks to an own goal by Benedetta Orsi in the 32nd minute and took a 2-1 lead on Hildah Magaia’s goal in the 67th.
Orsi’s own goal tied the game after she attempted to play a back pass to goalie Francesca Durante and didn’t realize where Durante was on the field.
All Italy needed was a tie with South Africa entering the game winless. Italy lost to Sweden but had beaten Argentina. With Argentina also winless, four points would have been comfortably enough to get the Italians through to the Round of 16.
Instead, South Africa finished the group stage with four points while Italy had just three.
