Able to advance to the knockout round only as the third-place team in its group, and beaten 5-1 by Brazil in the process, Sweden now plays for the gold medal and its first major tournament title in women’s soccer Friday against the victor of the second semifinal between Germany and Canada.
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Germany defeated Canada 2-0 to advance to the gold medal game, reversing a loss to the 2012 Olympic bronze medalists while giving coach Silvia Neid the chance to win the Olympic title in her final game in charge of the team. Brazil outshot Sweden 32 to 6, and while a good chunk of Brazil’s shots were from too far out to ever really threaten Swedish keeper Hedvig Lindahl, that disparity is an accurate reflection of Brazil’s dominance.
As in Friday’s contest with the US, Sweden captain Lisa Dahlkvist scored the decisive marker against Brazil, sparking delirium among the handful of Swedish supporters in the stands at Maracana.
Sweden’s Emilia Appelqvist fights for the ball with Brazil’s Beatriz (left) during the Brazil vs Sweden game on August 16, 2016.
“I never thought I could play at the Maracana”, striker Andressa Alves told FIFA.com.
Solo had castigated Sweden as “cowards” for their defensive display in the last eight, but that seemed to only strengthen the resolve of Sundhage s women as they barely threatened the Brazilian goal.
Even with her skills, major success however, eluded the Brazilian women’s team.
Win their semis and both sides could be back at the Maracana on Friday and Saturday respectively to deliver Brazil some much needed gold.
Germany face Canada later in Belo Horizonte in the other semi-final. “Nothing will take the shine off the work we did during the whole year”, five-time Player of the Year Marta said.
“It’s all about machismo”, said Adir Fernandes, a middle-aged Vasco da Gama fan who came to the Maracana to see her first women’s game.
Brazil has won silver twice (2004, 2008) and finished in fourth twice (1996, 2000), while Sweden’s best finish had been fourth (2004). The Swedes sat back in a 4-5-1 formation and hoped to get a counterattack goal and stifle the USA’s attack. She may retire without ever winning a major global tournament, but surely there was a “next Marta” who watched Tuesday’s game somewhere – just like Carli Lloyd watched the 1999 Women’s World Cup. Marta had both goals for Brazil, including a controversial penalty kick, but Solo was able to stop Daiane in the shootout.
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Honduras is a team that surprised many when it qualified for the Rio Games by defeating the U.S.in CONCACAF Olympic qualifying. But in the end the numbers did not help as the hosts failed to get on the scoring board.
