The US women's national team continue their quest for FIFA Women's World Cup glory with a Friday-night, prime-time date with one of their oldest rivals – and their previous head coach – on Friday night in Winnipeg (8 pm ET, FOX, NBC Universo in US, CTV in Canada).
Pia Sundhage coached the USWNT from 2007-12, leading them to the 2008 and 2012 Olympic gold medals and a runners-up spot at the 2011 WWC. After
the triumph at London 2012
, she returned to her native Sweden to take the helm of the
Blågult
(the Blue-and-Gold), for whom she once starred as a player.
Now she finds herself matched against her old team in a twist of fate that she and her successor – and former assistant coach (as seen at right) – Jill Ellis, had a “prophetic” idea might happen when they chatted at the World Cup draw last year.
But there will be a sharp edge to what previously looked like a friendly reunion between two groups of players with many shared links via club play in both countries.
That's because Sundhage offered up some blunt remarks about a few of her former charges in a New York Times piece published this week, calling US midfielder Carli Lloyd “a challenge to coach,” alluding to goalkeeper Hope Solo's penchant for “trouble” off the field and claiming “there was no question” that iconic forward Abby Wambach would've been handed a substitute's role were she still in charge of the USWNT.
The Times interview took place weeks ago, and the easygoing, plain-spoken Sundhage clarified her remarks in her pre-game press conference on Thursday. But the timing of the article has provided the Americans with timely bulletin-board fodder, as FOX commentator and former USWNTer Heather Mitts emphasized on Twitter:
The current US squad, who say they have created a “bubble” around their group to keep focused, did not offer up too much of a rebuttal, with one or two brief exceptions:
Ellis' team didn't produce their best soccer
in Monday's 3-1 win over Australia
(
HIGHLIGHTS
), admitting afterward that they felt some "jitters."
But their talent was overpowering, particularly in the second half, as stars Megan Rapinoe, Hope Solo and Sydney Leroux produced game-changing moments to leave the Aussies frustrated and defeated.
Sweden, ranked No. 5 in the latest FIFA World Rankings and desperate for a positive result after their wild, unexpected 3-3 draw with Nigeria, should present a tougher challenge.
A loss to the US on Friday would put the Swedes in real trouble in this tournament's “Group of Death.” But Sundhage knows the USWNT's strengths and weaknesses as well as anyone, and her own squad is stacked with veteran savvy.
With 80 goals in 151 international appearances, Lotta Schelin is one of the most feared attackers in the world, a well-rounded target striker often compared to her countryman Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Her usual forward partner, Kosovare Asllani (pictured at right), presents a complementary skillset, a flair for the unexpected and a compelling backstory: Like Ibrahimovic's, her family settled in Sweden to take refuge from the Balkan Wars.
In midfield, Schelin's co-captain, Caroline Seger, is a box-to-box force who earned All-Star honors at the last Women's World Cup. Further back, Nilla Fischer is a hard-nosed, take-no-prisoners defender.
“They're going to be highly organized,” said Ellis of Sweden. “My guess is, they'll come out and pressure us, press us very high. Both their forwards are very dynamic, they like to get in behind ... it's something you have to be alert and aware of.”
Having squared off in group play in four previous Women's World Cups and one Olympics, Sweden and the United States have clashed on big stages many times over the past quarter-century.
The Yanks have almost always come out on top, save for their most recent major tournament clash, in Germany four years ago – where the dancing Swedes upset the US (HIGHLIGHTS) to take top spot in Group C. Now the race is on to earn first place in Group D, which offers a less strenuous travel schedule in the knockout stages, albeit on a potentially more dangerous side of the bracket if Germany and France win their respective groups.
Friday's meeting isn't quite do-or-die. But it could decide who gains the upper hand in the group – and the easier road toward the championship final in Vancouver on July 5.
