Australia are in position to advance automatically to the knockout rounds of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup if they receive at least a draw against Sweden on Tuesday. Before the tournament started, Sweden and the United States were favorites to win the group and two teams that had a real chance to go all the way to the end and raise the World Cup trophy. One of the favorites, Sweden, finds themselves in a fight for their lives with the group stage of the competition dwindling down to its finish with one match remaining.
What a letdown of a World Cup it has been for the Swedish national team. After going ahead of Nigeria 2-0 in the first match and then later on taking the lead again to go 3-2, the Nigerians came back to earn a draw with an 87th minute equalizer. USA were next on the fixture list and again Sweden could not find more than a point, coming close to a winner late on that was saved off the line by Meghan Klingenberg. Three points is vital when Sweden take on Australiain a match of either advancement or elimination.
The Aussies only need a draw to advance to the knockout round against Sweden. With the United States women facing off against Nigeria in what will be a likely USA win, Australia only need to salvage one point to book their spot into the next phase of the comptetition. All of the pressure mounts on the shoulders of the Swedish squad.
Depending on other results around the World Cup, at third place Sweden could not be able to advance to the knockout phase. The top four third-placed teams in the group stage all advance to the next round. Netherlands, France, Cameroon, and Thailand all have three points compared to Sweden who only have two. If all teams ahead of Sweden were to pick up at least a point, then Pia Sundhage's side would be eliminated from the 2015 Women's World Cup. Against an Australia side who has been solid all around the pitch, Sweden will have a tough task to break the down the number 10 team in the rankings.
Nilla Fischer, center back for Sweden, was an absolute rock at the back against the United States and was a main reason the U.S. did not score on the night. Fischer's strength and play will need to be reminiscent on Tuesday like it was last Friday to keep her side in the match with the Aussies. Captain of the Swedes, Lotta Schelin, also needs to have a good game. The all time leading goalscorer for the Swedish team has not scored in the 2015 World Cup and has not had a great tournament in Canada. These two players are important to the success of the Swedish team in their hopes of reaching the knockout round.