US wants win vs. Swedes

Defending champs won’t hold back for potentially easier path

LE HAVRE, FRANCE >> Victory is the goal for the United States in its group stage finale against Sweden, even though a loss might give the Americans an easier path through the knockout rounds of the Women’s World Cup.

“I think it’s in our team’s DNA to want to win and do really well,” defender Abby Dahlkemper said Tuesday, two days ahead of the Group F finale.

The defending champion U.S. and Sweden both enter with two wins and have clinched berths in the round of 16. The topranked Americans have the better goal difference and with a win or draw would play Spain in the round of 16 and could face No. 4 France in a quarterfinal at Paris’ Parc des Princes and No. 3 England in the semifinals.

The team that finishes second in the group meets the Netherlands or Canada in the round of 16, then could have a quarterfinal against No. 2 Germany, which would not have the backing of a large home crowd the way host nation France does every match.

U.S. coach Jill Ellis says she can’t convince her players not to tackle in practice, so asking them to hold back against Sweden is a losing cause. Ellis thinks it is dangerous to try to tailor results based on possible matchups.

“We want to win every game, so I think that’s where we’re at and that’s what we want to do,” Ellis said. “I think if you get too much into manipulating or planning or overthinking something, I just don’t think that that’s a good message.”

The United States has played Sweden six times in the group

USWNT >> PAGE 3

ALESSANDRA TARANTINO — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS US players celebrate after teammate Julie Ertz scored their side’s second goal during the Women’s World Cup Group F match between United States and Chile at Parc des Princes in Paris, France, Sunday.