Sweden: With standard strength to a flawless group stage?

With three goals, Alexandra Popp is currently in a promising second place in the list of top scorers at this Women’s World Cup 2023. Behind Japan’s Hinata Miyazawa, who has scored four goals, there are almost a handful of players who want to and can take part in the race for the top scorer at this World Cup finals. Among them, incidentally, is a Swedish defender.

Amanda Ilestedt of Arsenal FC also has three goals to her name, all of them headed, all of them off stationary balls. The centre-back therefore symbolises the outstanding standard of the Scandinavians, who have already booked their ticket to the last 16 after just two matchdays. Nevertheless, the prediction between Argentina and Sweden once again goes in the direction of the Northern Europeans.

On the one hand, because the physical advantages as well as the immense quality of corner kicks and free kicks will once again come to the fore against the traditionally somewhat smaller South Americans.

On the other hand, due to the fact that “Las Chicas” were not convincing in the first two matches. Apart from that, a potential Argentina vs. Sweden bet on the yellow-blue team is favoured by the fact that the women from the country of the men’s world champions have to play to win in order to still be able to dream of reaching the last 16.

Argentina – Statistics & current form

For only the fourth time in total, the Argentine women’s national football team is participating in a World Cup. So far, it has not been enough to reach the knockout round. In all three of their appearances, the South Americans were eliminated in the preliminary round. There are many indications that the fourth attempt will also fail in the preliminary round. Before the final group match between Argentina and Sweden, the odds on the “Las Chicas” advancing are 11.00. This assessment is not really surprising, however, because the South Americans have been eliminated from the group for three years.

However, this assessment is not really surprising, as the first two group matches resulted in just a single point. The all-important opening match against Italy was lost 1-0, before they just managed to avoid (almost) elimination in the second match against South Africa. Against the African champions, the world number 28 fought their way back from a 2-0 deficit to earn a 2-2 draw that left the proverbial door to the round of 16 just a little bit open.

Argentina need a perfect matchday 3

Only if a prediction on the success of coach German Portanova’s team in the Argentina vs. Sweden match on Wednesday lunchtime comes true and the parallel match between Italy and South Africa ends in a draw or with such a narrow victory for the South Africans that Argentina have a better goal difference in the final standings, can they make it to the last 16 at a World Cup finals for the first time.

Admittedly, we think such a scenario is rather unlikely, because even an Argentinian success against the strong Swedes would be a big surprise. The fact that the “Celeste” won five of the six Test matches in the 2023 calendar year does not change this. The opposition with Venezuela, Peru or Chile did not even come close to the quality of the Scandinavians, who we would rate as stronger in all respects.

Predicted line-up of Argentina:

Argentina (Official line-up) 4-3-3

Sweden – Statistics & current form

The Swedish women’s national team almost started the tournament with a huge disappointment. At times, the Scandinavians were surprisingly trailing 1-0 against underdog South Africa. However, a goal by former Bundesliga legionnaire Rolfö equalised the score and Amanda Ilestedt headed the world number three to a 2-1 victory in injury time.

In general, Ilestedt, who was mentioned briefly in the introduction and who moved from Paris St. Germain to Arsenal this summer, has made her mark on the Swedish attack so far. And that as a central defender!

The 1.78 metre tall blonde always looks for the way into the opponent’s penalty area when it comes to standards. She has already scored three goals with her head. The experienced defender even scored twice in the 5-0 win over Italy in the second group match. If you want to bet on Ilestedt getting on the scoresheet again on Wednesday night, you can find very promising odds of 9.00 between Argentina and Sweden on the Bet365 app.

Sweden are virtually set as group winners

All in all, it should be noted that resting balls are currently the biggest weapon that the four-time World Cup semi-finalists can bring to bear. The Northern Europeans continue to struggle a little in terms of play, but the very pronounced and good defensive awareness in combination with the header strength in standard situations has been enough so far to reach the round of 16 very confidently. Even in the event of a defeat, coach Peter Gerhardsson’s women can no longer be denied victory in the group.

So the focus is already on the round of 16, where a real top-class team like the USA or the Netherlands is waiting. Nevertheless, it would be important for their own self-confidence to win the third group game and to find more creative solutions offensively. However, it remains to be seen whether the same team as last time will tackle this mission, because in view of the starting position, it cannot be ruled out that the coach will start the rotation machine.

Predicted line-up of Sweden:

Sweden (Official line-up) 4-2-3-1

Argentina – Sweden Direct Comparison / H2H Balance

The only direct duel was almost exactly 15 years ago. At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, the two teams met in the group stage. Even then, the Swedes had the upper hand with a narrow 1-0 victory. Argentina were then eliminated in the preliminary round without a point, while Sweden lost out to Germany in the quarter-finals after extra time.

Argentina – Sweden tip

The group stage at the Women’s World Cup 2023 is slowly but surely coming to an end. Also in Group G the last dice will be cast on Wednesday afternoon. While the Swedes have virtually no chance of winning the group and Gerhardsson’s team could cope with a defeat on goal difference, the race for the second ticket to the last 16 is still open. However, it seems very unrealistic that the Argentinians will jump on the knockout train.

It is therefore understandable that the significantly lower betting odds are being offered between Argentina and Sweden on the success of the northern Europeans. More experience at international level, more individual quality, a particular strength after standard situations and the impressions gained so far in the tournament can be cited as arguments.

We are therefore convinced that “Las Chicas” will have to go home after this match, while the Swedes have a good chance of staying in the tournament for a long time. For the head-to-head clash between Argentina and Sweden, we recommend betting on a win for the favourites in conjunction with a maximum of four goals in the course of the match. The highest odds are 1.80 and can be played at Bet365.