WILLIAM WEST / AFP
Lina Hurtig, number 8, scored the goal for Sweden against the United States at the World Cup on August 6, 2023.
FOOTBALL – Within a few millimeters. After a crazy penalty shootout, the American double title holders and big favorites of the Football World Cup in Australia and New Zealand were eliminated in the round of 16 by Sweden this Sunday August 6 (0-0, 5-4 on penalties).
It’s a huge surprise for the United States, which had dominated the whole match thanks to numerous chances. But the Swedish goalkeeper Zecira Musovic, a real wall, multiplied the sumptuous stops, not letting any ball pass during the first 90 minutes, then during extra time.
It was therefore on penalties that the United States and Sweden ended their fight. While the former had the opportunity to take the lead, American star Megan Rapinoe, who will retire at the end of the season and was playing her last World Cup there, missed her shot. Disillusioned after this extended match, she even smiled after her failure, as you can see in the video above.
a hair’s breadth away
Finally, the Swedes regained the advantage and only needed one success to eliminate the favorites from the competition. It is Lina Hurtig who will deliver her team to a hair’s breadth. As you can see in the video below, the ball is cleared away by USA goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher once, then a second time when it lands on her.
Lina Hurtig begins to celebrate thinking the ball in the goal, while the American goalkeeper shakes her finger in denial. A few seconds of doubt follow, but the video assistance will have the last word: the ball touches the goal line. The Swedes advance to the quarter-finals and leave the Americans in the round of 16.
Paradoxically, Rapinoe’s teammates nevertheless achieved their most successful performance of the competition after a disappointing group stage. But the collective of Vlatko Andonovski, who bet on youth in the absence of the backbone of the titled generation in 2015 and 2019, between retirements and injuries, lacked consistency and efficiency against a team more polished.
Sweden, the third nation in the world, will face Japan in the next round. For its part, France faces Morocco on Tuesday August 8 to hope to pass in turn in the quarter-finals.
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