Peter Gerhardsson’s Sweden team demonstrated their dominance by securing their position as Group G winners in a convincing display against Argentina, who extended their unfortunate streak of 12 consecutive FIFA Women’s World Cup matches without a victory.
Argentina, holding the record for the highest number of Women’s World Cup matches played without a win, aimed to break this pattern to advance.
However, Sweden, unsurprisingly, had the upper hand in the first half, with Olivia Schough’s long-range free-kick collected by Argentina’s goalkeeper Vanina Correa, followed by Schough’s header from 12 yards wide of the post.
The second half brought a turning point for Argentina, as their resistance eventually crumbled 20 minutes in when Rebecka Blomqvist scored with a header from inside the penalty area, granting Sweden a well-deserved lead.
The goal was made possible by an exquisite cross into the 18-yard box from Sofia Jakobsson.
Jakobsson’s cross, delivered from the right-hand side, showcased one of the standout assists of the tournament so far, underlining the evident difference in quality between Sweden and Argentina.
Before the final whistle, Sweden received an opportunity to reflect their dominance on the scoreboard.
A moment of recklessness from Argentina’s Gabriela Chavez led to her fouling Blomqvist in the penalty area, prompting referee Salima Mukansanga to award a penalty.
Elin Rubensson confidently converted the penalty, increasing the lead and solidifying Sweden’s impressive performance.
Despite resting several key players prior to the match, Sweden’s coach Gerhardsson must have been pleased with their ability to maintain their winning streak and conclude the group stage with a flawless record.
Nevertheless, Sweden now faces the challenging task of competing against reigning champions USA in the knockout stage. The team’s pursuit of their first Women’s World Cup triumph remains alive.