Thank you for joining me for this one! Sweden put in an utterly dominant performance for 60 minutes but Japan almost closed out a comeback. Sweden were able to hold on and an Ilestedt goal and Angeldahl penalty were enough to see them through to the semi-finals where they will play Spain. For a recap on the action read the report below. We will be back with live coverage of the last two quarter-finals tomorrow but until then have a great Friday!
There will be a new winner of the World Cup in this tournament and Sweden have knocked out two previous winners in defending champions USA and 2011 winners Japan. Here’s a piece on why the USA’s campaign did not go as planned:
Hinata Miyazawa will not be getting her hands on the World Cup trophy but she is still leading the Golden Boot standings. France’s Kadidiatou Diani is second and Sweden’s Amanda Ilestedt is third, you can keep up to date with that:
Australia’s captain Sam Kerr has been unlucky with injury this tournament but her team fought on without her and they face France tomorrow. The skipper will start in that match, more details:
Attention will now turn to the other quarter-finals with France taking on co-hosts Australia and England facing Colombia. Here are a few pieces to get you up to speed after some updates:
Amanda Ilestedt has been named Player of the Match, the third one she has received at the tournament. She was immense for Sweden today, not only in scoring the goal but in her defensive work too.
How this one didn’t go in after it hit Musovic I do not know! Have a watch (clip is from the BBC and so some may not have access):
Such fine margins! 😱#FifaWWC #BBCWorldCup #JPN #SWE pic.twitter.com/PXEauhi9HK
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 11, 2023
Daniel has taken a different take to others who have got in touch on both penalties so I thought I would share: “I don’t really get it. Yes, everyone had their hands out [for Sweden’s pen]. But of course she’s aware of the ball (if not she’s not doing her job) and can pull her arms in. She knows what she’s doing. The one, however, for Japan was extremely borderline imho. She was not touched. That was a gift and Japan fumbled.”
Was not starting Endo the mistake? I was surprised when I looked at the team news to see her the only change and when she came on the Japanese attack sparkled. But hindsight is a beautiful thing.
The Sweden penalty continues to be controversial with the commentary still being debated. But equally the Japan penalty is also being debated. Should there have been a penalty at all in this match? I think everyone will have a different opinion.
Japan were the last team who had previously won the title to be left in the tournament. And so we will have a new winner! It will be Sweden, Spain, England, Colombia, France or Australia – who will take it? I don’t think anyone can call it after the results in this tournament!
If the Japan team who were dominant in the latter stages of that game showed up throughout the match they could be in the last four. But Sweden did just enough.
And breathe! Sweden come together in a huddle, they know that game came down to the wire. Japan players are on the floor in tears, they were the team who were the one who had impressed everyone.
Full time! Japan 1-2 Sweden
Sweden will face Spain in the semi-finals after a tense and thrilling quarter with Japan. Sweden were completely dominant in the first half but were only 1-0 up, they doubled their lead with an Angeldahl penalty. Japan got their own penalty but missed but Hayashi scored to give them hope. But it was not to be.
Updated
90 + 10 min: Kumagai was fouled by Blackstenius and Japan are coming again. My heart is in my mouth every time they are on the attack! Bennison clears but only as far as Endo. This is a messy, messy clearance from Sweden and it takes Ueki fouling Andersson to end the move.
90 + 9 min: The crowd is definitely behind Japan, every time they have the ball the come to life. Sweden defending for their lives.
90 + 8 min: Endo involved in an attack once again – she has been the difference for Japan since coming on. The attack ends with Sweden able to clear but my word this is electric.
90 + 7 min: Andersson pops it in but no one can get to it. Japan now coming forward again, can they find an equaliser? Not yet as Sweden clear but Japan will keep coming.
90 + 6 min: Endo takes the free kick but Hurtig heads away. Hamano pops it back in but it’s wide. Sweden win a corner now. Robyn has got in touch and said: “If ever there was a proper use of the phrase storming back! this is so impressive.” Isn’t it! I’m loving it, what a game.
90 + 4 min: Seike has a shot but it is wide, Japan completely dominant now. Takahashi is off for Hamano – she was thought to be injured for this game but she is on. Fujino is fouled by Angeldahl and Japan have a free kick, I’m so nervous! What an end to a great match.
90 + 2 min: It comes in and Ueki has a shot but Musovic saves! Sweden have switched from a calm and collected team to frantic.
90 + 1 min: Well the Sweden penalty will be even more of a controversial point if it is the difference in this match. There are 10 minutes added, lots of time for Japan to equalise. Japan have a corner.
90 min: Musovic is okay to continue and we are back underway.
89 min: Wow, oh wow! Japan could send this to extra time now! There is a break in play as Musovic receives some treatment – potentially a tactical sit on the floor as Sweden collects themselves.
GOAL! Japan 1-2 Sweden (Hayashi, 87')
Japan keep coming and Sweden cannot get it out of the box, Hayashi slams it home! Are we on for a comeback?!
Updated
87 min: Surely that went in?! Fujino took a free kick and it smacked the bar, it then hits Musovic but play on! Wow, I really thought that was in
86 min: Ingo has got in touch to clear up why the missed penalty from Japan was checked: “I think they only checked if anybody had entered the box too quickly
after the penalty, and then there was a freekick for Sweden because Ueki
headed the rebound with nobody touching it in between.” Ah thank you, that makes sense. Back to the game and Japan have won a free kick in a great position after Eriksson fouls.
84 min: Endo pops the ball in but Rubensson nabs the ball from Fujino, she is having a good game. Sweden are making another change with Kaneryd and Rubensson off for Bennison and Jakobsson.
82 min: Nagano and Miyazwa is off for Hayashi and Seike. Hurtig almost gets on the end of a chance but she can’t get to it. Thomas has got in touch about the Sweden penalty that was given for handball and said: “Completely agree with Robert, and for all the FA and Fifa are tweaking rules around time wasting and dissent, the handball law - and yes according to the law it’s a clear penalty - is by far the rule that most leaves me feeling like turning off and walking away from a game. It’s absurd to end up with a 70% chance of conceding because a player has not moved their arms into a position contrary to how any human would naturally when jumping while having debatable impact - given the ball was a cross into the area - on the likelihood of a goal in the first place. Sweden have been brilliant and will probably deserve to win anyway but it really feels like a law that needs sorting.” It’s definitely one that divides opinion!
80 min: Ueki now gets a yellow card, Japan’s first of the tournament, Eriksson is down here with an issue.
78 min: I am unsure what the review was for? Musovic was not off her line early but play is now continuing, a missed pen indeed. Wow. What a game.
Updated
MISSED PENALTY! Japan 0-2 Sweden (Ueki, 76')
Ueki steps up and it is off the bar! Musovic went the wrong way but Ueki smacks the floor and it hits the bar. The referee is checking this though, is Musovic off her line?
Updated
76 min: A great opportunity here for Japan, Musovic looks at her water bottle which has tactics on it. I think VAR are reviewing it but right now it is a penalty.
75 min: The corner is taken short again but Rubensson closes it down – Japan have a throw and Ueki gets into the box. She is tackled by Janogy and it’s a penalty!!
74 min: Japan get the ball in the box from the throw in and Fujino takes a shot but Ilestedt blocks. Hasegawa has a shot now but it’s deflected out for a corner! Wow, this game is so lively.
73 min: Corner is taken short and Fujino tries to cross but it’s closed down. A throw in to come but Sweden make changes before they take it. Asllani and Rolfo are off for Hurtig and Janogy.
72 min: What lovely build-up play from Japan, it comes to Endo who maybe takes a touch too many and Ilestedt can clear. They ping it back into the box but Sweden can relieve pressure but not for long. Fujino makes a good run into the box but her shot is saved by Musovic – she sees it out for a corner.
70 min: Hasegawa takes a shot but it’s over the bar! Japan are growing into this now, the sooner they score the sooner they can get back into this. Ueki is challenged on the edge of the box but boos rain down as a free kick isn’t given.
Updated
68 min: Angeldahl gives away a free kick which Japan take quickly, they have to build from deep but Sweden nick it. Hasegawa does well to stay on Asllani and eventually Yamashita collects. Justin has emailed on the penalty and said: “At the end of the day, any law which requires the players to place their arms as if they were doing impressions of chicken picking up corn, instead of putting them in the best place to jump for the ball, is an abomination in and of itself.” It was definitely a tough outcome for Nagano, what’s everyone else’s thoughts?
66 min: Sweden taking the sting out of this game now with sustained possession in the midfeld.
64 min: Japan have come to life here, they continually ping the ball in with the latest attempt being punched away from Musovic. It’s back and Hasegawa’s back heel isn’t goalward but it ends up with Endo. She crosses in and Fujino’s effort is over the bar.
62 min: Andersson makes a storming run but her cross is straight out of play. Robert has got in touch and had his say on the penalty: “The handball law is an a**. If you freeze the VAR video at the point the ball touches the arm, about 80% of the players in the picture have their arms away from their body. So how is Nagano’s arm in an unnatural position, when it’s the same with most other players surrounding her?” If it hit any of the Japanese players with the arms out it would have been a penalty, or if it hit a Swedish hand Japan could have cleared – as happened earlier on – but by the letter of the law it was a penalty.
60 min: Endo with a lovely bit of footwork to get away from Kaneryd but Sweden muscle them off the ball again. Japan are not being allowed the space or time on the ball. Henry has got in touch and said: “Sweden saw how passive Norway were when pressing Japan, and have made sure to do the opposite, quickly closing down and physically dominating the Japanese players, as well as playing much better with the ball than they did against the US. I hope the Japanese can react and come back, but Sweden have been brilliant so far!” Yeah at the moment I can’t see Japan scoring.
58 min: Hasegawa puts a great cross in but Sweden head away. Sweden look like a completely different team from the one who played the US, clinical and lethal. In the last 16 they held on for penalties, this is a class above.
56 min: Japan need to score and fast to get themselves a foothold. They have no momentum at the moment. Endo controls nicely, she lays it off to Ueki but Sweden defend well.
54 min: Some saying the penalty was harsh with the ball rebounding into her. But the hand was in an unnatural position and by the book it is a penalty. Tanaka is off for Ueki. Paulo has emailed and said: “I had Japan down to win the tournament fairly easily (if that’s possible) but I think I might have had my mind changed. Sweden have been outstanding!” So true, Sweden have completely dominated.
52 min: Angeldahl is calm and she slots it in the left hand corner, Yamashita went in the wrong direction.
Updated
PENALTY! Japan 0-2 Sweden (Angeldahl, 51')
Angeldahl takes it and it’s in!
Updated
50 min: Here we go, PENALTY!
50 min: Nagano looks like it’s hit her arm, Ilestedt gets her head to it and it hits her arm. Oh my, will this be a pen?
Updated
49 min: Andersson takes the kick and it’s a good delivery but not one can deal with it. Tanaka clears but to Andersson’s feet, she pings it back in and Yamashita collects. There looks like there is handball, the referee looking at VAR here!
48 min: Sweden are starting this second half just as they did the first with a lot of possession. Kaneryd wanted a foul as she was taken out off the ball, Endo blocked her run, but nothing is given. Kaneryd is quickly able to have her chance though, a lovely ball comes to her and it’s another great save from Yamashita, Sweden corner.
46 min: Sugita is off for Endo in the only half-time change.
Back underway! Japan 0-1 Sweden
So will Sweden continue to run away with this? Or can Japan hit back? All to come over the next 45.
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The goal came from a set piece in the free kick and Yamashita punched away. Blackstenius pinged it back in and Eriksson had three stabs at the ball before it came to Ilestedt’s feet. The defender then pops it in the back of the net, have a watch (it’s a clip from the BBC and so some will not have access):
The scrappiest goal we've seen for a while!
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 11, 2023
Sweden take the lead.#FifaWWC #JPN v #SWE pic.twitter.com/sE5cnyPmvS
Amanda Ilestedt’s goal was her fourth of the tournament, she is now just one goal behind Japan’s Hinata Miyazawa in the Golden Boot race! You can keep up to date with that here:
Half-time! Japan 0-1 Sweden
Well this is Sweden’s game and we’re just watching it! Japan have looked dangerous when they have pieced together a counter attack but Sweden have their number at the moment. Defensively astute and a defender the one to make the difference on the scoreboard – Ilestedt with the effort from the free kick. Japan are still in this but they need to be the next to score.
45 min: Sweden are starting to run riot here, Japan faded since the goal went in rather than galvanising. Angeldahl has a shot from outside the box but Yamashita saves.
43 min: Sweden are in the box again but Blackstenius handballs to relieve some pressure for Japan. OH MY WORD! How has that not gone in? Rolfo passes to Asllani, she rifles a shot off and Yamashita makes a HUGE save. It rebounds and hits the post. Wow.
Updated
42 min: Sugita does well to draw a foul from Asllani as Sweden looked to strike again, defensively apart from on the free kick has been really good. The free kick no one could get a clean swipe on it until Arsenal-bound Ilestedt found goal.
Updated
40 min: Angeldahl takes a long range shot but Yamashita collects. Japan seem to be rushing their play and it’s resulting in a calm Sweden being able to close them down.
38 min: Sweden’s defence is also impressive, Miyazawa gets on the ball in the midfield but she is crowded off. Sweden come forward again, another great forward ball from Rubensson but Kaneryd can’t get a shot away.
36 min: Fujino takes a long range effort but Musovic collects easily. Sweden have all the momentum, the goal has definitely lifted their sails.
34 min: Upon more research Deborah did not get the song correct, it’s actually Bring It On by by Tones And I, BIA and Diarra Sylla.
33 min: Now that is a statement, that is just the second goal Japan have conceded at this World Cup. Sweden have been the better team so far, they’ve had the majority of possession. How will Japan respond to being behind? They haven’t been in this spot yet this tournament.
Updated
GOAL! Japan 0-1 Sweden (Ilestedt, 32')
Of course it’s from a free kick! It’s popped in and it pinballs around. Ilestedt eventually has it in the back of the net.
Updated
30 min: Deborah has come through and helped me out, she has found the song that has been an earworm for me! She said: “It‘s: DO IT AGAIN.” Thank you! Tanaka has it in the box again but it doesn’t find a teammate.
28 min: Shimizu gets a lovely cross in but the resulting shot ends up in Musovic’s gloves. This game is opening up.
26 min: Oh my word how has Blackstenius not scored?! Bjorn passes a huge ball and Blackstenius gets on the end of it but it’s wide! Kumagai does really well in defence to put her off. Wow. Denis has got in touch and said: “It’s like Pinball wizard out there! It hasn’t stopped!” This game is so entertaining isn’t it!
24 min: Asllani is marshaled off the ball and she can’t keep it in play. Oh okay Rachel Brown-Finnis, great quote on the BBC: “Possession without purpose is pointless”.
22 min: Does anyone know what the song is that is played in every match when the players walk out in the stadium? It’s stuck in my head but for the life of me I don’t know what it is! Back to the game and Sweden are in possession once more, they will want to find an opener or they could end up like Spain – having a large portion of possession but losing with Japan clinical in front of goal.
Updated
20 min: Miyazawa with a poor touch to gift the ball back to Sweden, while there has not been any real clear cut chance in the game yet it’s been very entertaining. Eriksson fouls Tanaka, clear shove.
18 min: Miyazawa stop that! What a turn, she passes to Tanaka who lofts it to Shimizu. There’s a lot of work on the edge of the box and Hasegawa pops it in but Eriksson clears. The former Chelsea captain winning her 100th cap for Sweden today.
16 min: Andersson crosses in but it’s a poor delivery, I think that’s the only bad delivery she has done all tournament. Usually they are pinpoint.
15 min: Asllani with a peach of a ball to Blackstenius and she then wins a corner, this is where Sweden could find their opener.
14 min: Fujino takes the free kick short and it’s then pinged in but the move – that looked straight off the training pitch – is easily cleared.
12 min: Sugita can’t get on the end of a great pass but that is what Sweden have to be mindful of, no matter how much possession they have Japan will strike. And here they come! Tanaka has a great run but Angeldahl cuts her down, surprised she hasn’t seen yellow there – a free kick though.
10 min: Kaneryd with some stunning footwork to keep that in! She pops in a cross but Japan are able to head away, it is all Sweden in the early stages. Angeldahl wants a foul after an interaction with Miyazawa but nothing is given.
Updated
8 min: Japan nick the ball in the midfield but they can only put a few passes together before it’s turned over. A bit scrappy at the moment with possession exchanging hands, Ilestedt needs to put in a crucial tackle to prevent a shot at goal.
6 min: Sweden already look better on the attacking press than they did against the USA, a lot of early defending for Japan. A cross comes in but Shimizu is there to head away.
4 min: Asllani is over the free kick ball and it is a really good delivery but Takahashi is who it meets, she passes to Hasegawa who clears.
3 min: Takahashi does well to cut out a long range pass but Sweden continue to press. Asllani is fouled by Miyazawa and Sweden have a free kick.
2 min: Bjorn is employed to defend straight away and she sees it out for a corner. Hasegawa takes the corner short but Rubensson defends well and Sweden are eventually able to quell the danger.
Kick-off! Japan 0-0 Sweden
Here we go then, Spain await in the semi-final. Everything to play for, 90 minutes (plus extra time and penalties if needed) to decide it.
Japan are the only nation left in the tournament who have previously won the World Cup. They lifted the trophy in 2011. Can Sweden knock-out another previous winner? We will find out soon with kick-off imminent.
The players are out in Auckland! The atmosphere is sizzling, the anthems will shortly follow. Who will face Spain in the semis? All to come.
It was Lina Hurtig’s penalty that broke the USA’s hearts in the last 16 but it’s a memory the Swedish player will make permanent if her team can win the trophy. Read more here:
Here is a great piece on Japan’s star Miyazawa:
Some news from around the tournament now and England’s Lauren James will miss the quarter-final and semi-final (if England go through) after receiving a two match ban following her red card against Nigeria. Read the full piece:
If players have been booked before this game and receive a yellow in this match they will be banned for the semi-final should their team go through. The players already booked for Sweden are Asllani and Schough, while Japan have no one in the book.
It’s another round of knock-out football and I always wonder what the players are feeling before a match. So I thought I would ask all of you if you had experienced something similar, albeit on a smaller scale! Ever have a school championship match? Were you in a local production? Let me know the moments where you had to perform under pressure! You can get in touch via Twitter or email.
There is so much to take in during a World Cup and you may miss a thing or two so I’ve put a piece together on 10 things you may have missed. Have a read of it:
Anita Asante is the writer of our weekly women’s football newsletter Moving the Goalposts this week and she has predicted how each of the quarter-finals will shake out. She has said Japan v Sweden will see Japan come out as 2-1 winners, see her explanation as to why here:
The first semi-finalist of this Women’s World Cup has been decided! The Netherlands and Spain played one another earlier today and it was Spain who got through to the last four after an extra time Salma Paralluelo winner. The Barcelona player has competed so well all tournament and her celebrations show how much it meant! Read the report:
Sweden have also named their starting XI! They have not made any changes to the team who beat the USA.
Starting team: Musovic, Bjorn, Ilestedt, Eriksson, Andersson, Angeldahl, Asllani, Rubensson, Kaneryd, Blackstenius, Rolfo.
The team news is in! Let’s start with Japan and they make one change from their win over Norway with Sugita coming in for Endo.
Starting XI: Yamashita, Shimizu, Minami, Kumagai, Sugita, Miyazawa, Nagano, Tanaka, Takahashi, Hasegawa, Fujino.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to the second quarter-final of the Women’s World Cup! What a tasty clash we have with Japan taking on Sweden with both countries winning all of their games so far and only conceding one goal each.
Japan are being considered one of the strongest teams at the tournament. They have been dominant in every match they have played and even thumped Spain 4-0 in the group stage. They also have Hinata Miyazawa in their ranks who currently occupies top spot in the Golden Boot race.
Sweden, meanwhile, have not been as clinical in front of goal but they have ground out results. Their best coming against defending champions USA in the last 16 where Sweden knocked them out on penalties. Japan will pose an even stronger attacking threat in the last-eight game and so goalkeeper Zećira Mušović will be likely to have another busy match.
Both teams will reveal their starting XI’s soon so stay tuned for all the updates ahead of kick-off in a hour’s time.
