Women’s World Cup group information and updates from semi-final

Sweden centre again Amanda Ilestedt looms as an unlikely candidate to say the Golden Boot on the Women’s World Cup, but it surely comes as no shock to her group mates.

Ahead of in the present day’s semi-final towards Spain, Ilestedt has 4 objectives for the event, one shy of the main Hinata Miyazawa, who can not add to her tally after Japan’s elimination by Sweden within the quarter-finals.

All of Ilestedt’s objectives have come from set items, whereas eight out of Sweden’s 11 objectives on the event have adopted dead-ball set-ups.

“I think set pieces is one our biggest strengths and something we work on,” Sweden captain Kosovare Asllani advised reporters on Monday.

“I mean, Amanda is amazing, but we have so many players that are really good in the area. In the end, I don’t think anyone cares who’s the leading goal-scorer. The only thing we’re thinking about is winning games.”

European heavyweights Spain and Sweden will battle for a spot within the Women’s World Cup closing after they conflict in Auckland on Tuesday.

Bookmakers have put in Spain because the 7/4 favourites to win the event after they beat Netherlands 2-1 within the final spherical.

They have a wealth of world-class stars inside their ranks, together with Ballon d’Or Féminin winner Alexia Putellas.

However, the technically gifted Spaniards will should be at their sensible finest to beat a Sweden group which have delighted in defying the percentages to this point.

The Swedes have been underdogs within the final two rounds however they dumped USA out of the competitors after which battled to a well-known victory over Japan on Friday.

They are nonetheless unbeaten at this event and so they additionally boast quite a lot of high quality in assault, so it guarantees to be an entertaining sport.

How did each groups attain the semi-finals?

Spain (runners-up Group C)

• 3-0 vs Costa Rica
• 5-0 vs Zambia
• 0-4 vs Japan
• 5-1 vs Switzerland
• 2-1 vs Netherlands (after further time)

• 2-1 vs South Africa
• 5-0 vs Italy
• 2-0 vs Argentina
• 0-0 vs United States (Won 5-4 on penalties)
• 2-1 vs Japan

Spain haven’t began two time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas of their final two video games, however La Roja didn’t want the Barcelona star of their victories over Switzerland and the Netherlands. Salma Paralluelo, the match-winner within the quarter-finals, could return to the beginning line-up however Vilda might also determine to maintain the Barcelona winger as asubstitute.

Sweden have been unchanged of their win towards the USA and coach Peter Gerhardsson confirmed he has a totally match squad to select from, with winger Sofia Jakobsson anticipated to be accessible after recovering from a chilly this week.

The first World Cup semi-final kicks off at 9am BST on Wednesday 15 August at Eden Park, Auckland.

It might be proven reside on BBC One and the BBC iPlayer, with protection ranging from 8:30am.

Spain face Sweden within the first Women’s World Cup semi-final as each nations go in the hunt for their first event crown.

Sweden produced their finest efficiency of the World Cup to defeat Japan 2-1 within the quarter-finals, knocking out the group of the event with a show of high-tempo urgent whereas persevering with to take their probabilities at set-pieces. Centre-back Amanda Ilestedt is Sweden’s top-scorer with 4 objectives up to now, with the defender within the race for the World Cup golden boot.

Spain required Salma Paralluelo’s extra-time objective to defeat Netherlands and have navigated a participant mutiny underneath head coach Jorge Vilda to achieve their first ever World Cup semi-final. Despite uncertainty off the sector, Spain have shone on it, led by Barcelona star Aitana Bonmati. The winner will play both England or Australia in Sunday’s World Cup closing.

Follow all the most recent build-up in in the present day’s World Cup weblog