Had it not been for the final round of the tournament, in which Portugal's goal came within a centimeter of the other team's goal in the 92nd minute, the U.S. team's life would have been in jeopardy. However, the team, which was aiming for a second consecutive title, survived and advanced to the Round of 16.
Against Portugal, it was clear that the U.S. lacked shot accuracy, especially from star Alex Morgan, who will have to improve her scoring efficiency in front of the goal.
Ruth Navini's suspension will have a profound effect on the U.S. team, but the team still has a number of strong players, such as Leslie Horan and Zuri Izzi, whose experience will be a valuable asset to the team. In my opinion, it was a mistake for the U.S. to sub Sofia Schmidt against Portugal because she has the ability to change the direction of the game and she is the key player that can cause problems for the opponents.
The Swedes swept through the group stage with an autumnal flourish, winning all three matches to advance to the Round of 16 in top spot. However, they don't have the best record against the U.S., collecting just one win in six Women's World Cup matchups.
I'm convinced that Elisdiette is the backbone of the Swedish team, not only is she able to solidify the defense, but she can also be a threat on corner kicks. She has already proved her worth by scoring three goals in the tournament, so the U.S. defense will have to be tough on her. As for the attacking line of Bikstienius and Eisner, they will pose a challenge to the U.S. defense, and I expect the Swedish starters, who were rested in their last match against Argentina, to be even more refreshed for this match.
