Crunch time for Sweden
RIO DE JANEIRO – A new nation will be crowned Olympic women’s football champions in tonight’s final (10.30pm SA time) as Sweden take on Germany at Maracana Stadium.
However, there will be one two-time gold medallist present as Sweden coach Pia Sundhage goes for a third straight gold after leading the US to victory in Beijing and London.
The normally understated Sundhage admits she has had to sacrifice her attacking philosophy to land her native Sweden’s first ever women’s Olympic football medal.
“Emotionally I am thrilled. It is incredible Sweden are in the final,” said Sundhage.
“I have been in China and London Olympic finals with a team everyone expected to do well. The road we have taken has been a wonderful trip with one or two upsets.”
Indeed, Sweden have needed two penalty shootouts to pull off their upsets in knocking out world champions US and hosts Brazil.
The defensive tactics employed by Sundhage have come under fire as a result.
Sweden’s route to the final has been an unusual one, having won just one of their five matches in open play.
That victory came in front of only a few hundred fans against South Africa on the opening day of competition.
They were then thrashed 5-1 by Brazil and drew 0-0 with China to squeeze through the group stages as one of two best third-placed teams.
Two-time world champions Germany also overcame adversity to reach the final.
Canada will face Brazil in a bronze medal game in São Paulo today (6pm SA time). –