The most-played fixture in the history of the Women’s World Cup is set to be played out for a seventh time after the United States failed to win their First Round group.
The most-played fixture in the history of the Women’s World Cup is set to be played out for a seventh time in Melbourne on Sunday after the United States failed to win their First Round group today.
The defending world champions are through to the Round of 16 and will play the winners of Group G to be settled tomorrow. Sweden currently sit on top of the group, three points ahead of Italy, who they have already defeated 5-0 on Saturday. It seems inconceivable that the Swedes will lose their final group game to Argentina, coupled with the necessary five-goal swing in goal difference to lose the group leadership.
Sweden and the United States will therefore remarkably meet for the sixth Women’s World Cup in succession, and the seventh time overall. This is an all-time record in the history of the tournament, equaling the seven match-ups between Brazil and Sweden, Argentina and Germany and Germany and Yugoslavia/Serbia in the men’s World Cup.
The two teams met in each other’s first-ever Women’s World Cup match in Guangzhou, China in 1991. The United States won a thrilling encounter 3-2 with the winning goal scored by a 19-year-old striker called Mia Hamm. The two teams were staying at the same White Swan Hotel and, not keen on the local cuisine, the United States had given some of their pasta to the Swedish delegation.
