Preview (June 15, 20019) – Kosovare Asllani and Sweden took care of business in their opening group stage game of the Women’s World Cup. They dispatched of a lesser Chile team on late goals from Asllani and Madelen Janogy, winning 2-0. They’ve to a big test in terms of goal differential in dealing with Thailand.
Kosovare Asllani, Sweden Have Goal Differential Work to do Against Thailand
Thailand are now somewhat famous, not for losing to the United States Women’s National Team 13-0, but for having everyone come to their rescue in scorning the USWNT for their celebrations.
That’s another topic for another article. In the present, Thailand need a result for any hope of making it out of the group. Sweden are the most likely challengers to the United States to win the group. They play each other third and last next week. There’s a very good possibility that both teams will go into that game with six points. Meaning whomever has the higher goal differential going into that game will only need a draw to win the group outright.
If Sweden wants to win the group (and there’s a chance they’ll be content with second), they need to put up goals against Thailand. The United States will probably beat Chile by more than two, so Kosovare Asllani really need to pour it on the Thais, or get a win against the United States in the third group stage game.
It’s unclear as of now how Thailand will be approaching this game. Yes, four of six third place teams will go through to the knockout round, but Thailand are clearly the worst team in Group F on paper. They can’t do much worse than 13-0. If nothing else, pride has to be on the line for Nuengrutai Srathongvian and company. I’d at least expect them to put together something closer to a 90 minute performance compared to the game against the United States. That should lead to a closer scoreline, leaving Sweden with a must win game against the Americans if they want to win the group.
Or maybe Sweden would rather not face France in a potential quarter final match in Paris.
