Spain vs Sweden summary: score, goals, highlights | Women’s World Cup 2023 semi-finals

Signing off...

Thanks again for joining me for the coverage of the Women's World Cup - what a tournament we've seen so far! 

Make sure to check out en.as.com for all the latest sport news and be sure to check back in tomorrow for England vs Australia!

Joe

Aitana knows exactly where the magic is!

Another goal from Salma as she shows her quality once again on the world stage.

Spain won the xG battle

By the end, it must be said that La Roja were worthy winners of the tie and fully deserve to be in the final.

'Let's get that first star!'

That's the message from the Spanish National Team, who are about to play in their firs tever World Cup final!

Full time report:

What an achievement for Spain and Spanish football. 

Before this tournament began, they had not won a single knockout game. Now they are into the final.

Olga's sensational strike smashed off the crossbar past Musovic just seconds after conceding, sending Spain to the final.

The game was a tense, nervous affair, with both teams cancelling each other out for almost 90 minutes.

Despite the nerves, Sweden and Spain both had their chances, with Alba Redondo coming close for La Roja in the first half. 

Sweden's long-ball plan caused some issues but Laia and Irene were superb, covering everything perfectly. In midfield, the battle was immensely tough and the game looked to be going to extra time as the attackers were continuously nullified.

And then the deadlock was broken. Super sub Salma struck again before Blomqvist passed the ball into the net with a superb showing of technique.

And then came Olga. 

From nowhere, the Real Madrid left-back hit a wonder-strike that smashed off the crossbar and into the back of the net to give Spain the win.

SPAIN ARE THROUGH TO THE WORLD CUP FINAL

OLGA'S GOAL SENDS SPAIN TO THE FINAL

Cata catches Sweden's cross!

We are into the eighth minute of added time...

30 seconds to go.

Gasps as Eva nearly gets on the end of a filtered pass down the wing but it rolls out of play before Esther sees the cross come in.

Irene throttles the ball over the top into the stands instead of looking for a pass. The safer option, one might assume.

Esther ON

Mariona OFF

A gaggle of bodies go down in the box but it's Spain who get the advantage from the referee. Free-kick.

Spain guard the ball as it rolls back to Cata after Hurtig's pass is just too heavy through the lines.

Spain clear away a Sweden cross that had a dangerous fizz. Andersson gets down the left but her effort to grab an assist hits the top of the net.

7 added minutes.

Tere plays a corner to Olga on the edge of the box and the left-back hits a meteorite towards goal that thunders off the crossbar and into the back of the net! 

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT

OLGA CARMONA SCORES A GOLAZO 

The ball is hit over from the left and lands with Hurtig who plays back across goal to Blomqvist. The touch is perfect from Blomqvist who passes past Cata Coll.

BLOMQVIST

SWEDEN EQUALISE

Cata is back on her feet, which is positive, but she's still hobbling around.

One to keep an eye on.

Hurtig ON

Rubensson OFF

Spain goalkeeper, Cata Coll, is down.

That's Salma's 8th goal for Spain in 13 appearances.

That's a close call from Sweden with Magda Eriksson, who gets her forehead on the end of a deep cross.

She tries to find goal machine Ilestedt, but the headed pass goes out for a goal kick.

We're back underway...

THE GOAL STANDS

VAR check! Possible offside!

Jenni plays a cross from the left corner of the box that is half cleared by the defender and it falls to the dangerous player on the pitch, who swings a leg at the ball as she spins around the penalty spot like a figure skater, poking the ball past Musovic into the bottom right corner.

SALMA AGAIN

SALMA 

Jenni is playing as an inside midfielder now as Salma moves into the striker role, and her creativity has been badly missed by La Selección.

Spain have been creeping towards goal...

Who will get that crucial first strike?

Blomqvist & Schough ON

Blackstenius & Kaneryd OFF

It's a delightful ball in from Kaneryd who almost finds Blackstenius but the cross is an inch too high and Spain survive.

SWEDEN GO CLOSE

A wonderfully whipped cross is sent in from the right with Ona and Mariona makes contact.

However, she skews the effort and it flies wide.

CHANCE FOR SPAIN

Eva Navarro ON

Alba Redondo OFF

Spain have another chance to break with Mariona, whose pass towards Salma to just too heavy for the young forward to colect.

Jenni's cross is sublime and finds Alba at the far post: her shot goes wide.

However, Salma does well to keep the ball in and finds Alba on the floor, who somehow pokes the ball wide from a few yards out!

ALBA REDONDO

BIG CHANCE FOR SPAIN

Into the final 20 minutes.

Spain are getting their groove on and the passes look crisp and sharp, finding their target. 

Salma's impact on the game has been a lifesaver, just as Sweden looked to be the dominant team; a great move from Vilda.

INTO THE WALL

Mariona with a dangerous free kick after a foul on Tere...

Wonderful link up play from Spain between Jenni, Mariona and Laia Codina ends when Jenni's threaded pass finds Salma who takes a touch past the defender into space.

Her shot never arrives but Spain look threatening.

SPAIN GO CLOSE

Something of a chance for Spain as Salma heads an incredibly difficult shot over the bar following a cross from Alba Redondo.

Are you going to guess who's winning this one?

CHANCE! Sweden slip in behind Spain's defence and Cata fists away a dangerous cross from Kaneryd.

Olga's back up and looks OK.

Olga is down holding her right foot after a revenge challenge from Asllani.

Spain look a different side with Salma on the pitch: they are more dynamic in attack and now can play the same type of pass over the back line that Sweden have been trying all game.

A half chance for Spain as Salma gets her first touch of the ball, playing inside from the left to Jenni who lays off to Alba. The Levante player turns on her heels and pokes a shot towards goal from inside the box that is blocked.

Salma ON

Alexia OFF

It's Cata again, this time collecting a cross from Rolfö after the Barça winger beat Ona for pace down the wing. Sweden definitely have the momentum so far this half.

Cata saves a shot from a tight angle which was well hit by Blackstenius after a threaded ball found her run in behind.

Both Jorge Vilda and Peter Gerhardsson are pacing up and down their technical areas as Spain try to attack with Mariona, but the pass to her from Tere is sloppy and the ball flies out of play.

It's Spain who are on the back foot at the moment: Sweden's incessant passing over and through the back line is giving them an advantage as they can play their game without having to go through Spain's midfield.

Sweden get in behind Olga and the cross is fired in towards goal, but Rolfö can't get on the end of the ball by Asllani.

It's Laia Codina again who gets on the end of Sweden's searching ball in behind, and she plays to Cata in the goal.

The stopper, however, makes a mess of the pass and it rolls out of play for a Sweden throw in an advanced area.

Laia Codina races back to beat Rolfö to a high ball over the top.

The ball is sent the other way immediately with Mariona, who slides Alba through the lines on the edge of the box. Musovic collects.

Olga starts the second half off with a big challenge on Asllani, her ex-teammate.

And we're off!

The second half is underway! 

Spain get us going.

No changes for either side.

The players are back out on the pitch!

Here we go for the second half!

WOMEN'S WORLD CUP 2023

Why does the Spanish anthem have no lyrics and what other countries have only music in their anthem?

Wondering why I said the Spanish players were humming the national anthem?

It's because it's genuinely got no words.

Yeah, a strange one, I know. Luckily, Calum's on hand to explain exactly why it is an instrumental only tune.

Has Olga been Spain's best player?

She's certainly been the player who has come closest in front of goal.

Half time!

That was a cagey, nervy half of football.

Spain took time to grow into the game and find solutions to Sweden's press, who looked ferocious from the first minute. On various occasions they managed to break through and find space in the final third, but it was actually left-back Olga who came closest for La Roja, with a thunderbolt from long range that skimmed the post.

Sweden crept into the tie a little later, and their heavy-hitting policy kept Spain at bay and eventually put them under pressure at the end, with a huge chance for Rolfö parried wide by Cata Coll.

The second half is anyone's guess.

Thirty seconds is eaten up by a hungry Ona, who takes a long time to decide where to throw the ball.

We've got 1 minute of added time.

Sweden now have had a succession of corners, and the latest one is punched by Cata before being hoofed away by Aitana.

That was the first big chance of the game, and Jorge Vilda has just unzipped his big coat. Nerves.

Olga's clearance is poor and it lands straight to Björn, whose volleyed cross is met by Rolfö.

A thunderous shot towards goal is well saved by Cata Coll.

HUGE SAVE FROM CATA COLL!!

A close call as Rubensson's pass backwards to Eriksson is unexpected and Jenni, like a wily lone wolf, is sniffing around and nearly collects the loose ball that is eventually swept up.

Spaincomeclose with Aitana, who skips to the right after receiving with her back to goal on the edge of the box.

The Barça midfielder takes one touch to the right to open things up on front of goal but Eriksson's frame is huge and her presence sends Bonmatí's skewed shot well wide.

Ona Batlle battles (sorry) with Asllani as the ex-Real Madrid forward skips past her inside the Spain box. A good clearance from Irene removes the immediate threat from the side in yellow.

A great challenge from Irene Paredes stops Rolfö getting in behind from a long ball.

Tere's cross finds Alexia at the far post and the Ballon d'Or winner nutmegs the defender inside the box before Musovic gets a strong hand to her cross/shot that flies across goal!

CHANCE FOR SPAIN!!

Alexia gets a good telling off from the referee after a few tasty challenges come in on La Roja and she files a complaint with some not-for-children words.

Some great work again from Spain: this time it's Aitana with the fabulous technical quality to squirm out of a rabbit hole and into the open field. Tere recieves in space and skips past Asllani, but she's pulled back and a free-kick is given.

Oof, Laia Codina hoofs the ball out of play as Rolfö almost takes control of Irene Paredes' loose pass in the box. Squeals from the crowd.

Spain are slowly gathering momentum to keep hold of the ball but Sweden's press makes it seem like there are 22 players in yellow on the pitch instead of 11.

Multiple bodies surround every Spanish player the minute they take a touch to control the ball.

Some fabulous work from Tere in a tight space on Spain's left as she skips past a number of challenges before playing a sly ball up the line to Alexia, who is fouled.

Cata Coll, just as she did all game against the Netherlands, comes out well to collect a laser-guided low pass through Spain's defensive line.

Mariona is taken out by Björn, who gets her studs tangled in the Barça winger's laces.

Olga goes for her second long-distance attempt of the day, but this one was significantly higher, wider and further away from goal than the previous strike.

We're midway through the first half and neither side have managed to fully assert themselves over the opponent.

As I type, Alba breaks away down the right and plays centrally towards Jenni Hermoso, who can't get the ball out from under her feet.

Half a chance for Spain as Aitana wonderfully skips past Rubensseon before lofting a ball to Jenni on the penalty spot, but the Pachuca striker can't glance a header and Musovic catches easily.

Spain are still trying to continue that typical possession game that we are so used to, but Sweden's press is certainly causing them some problems.

The game has evened out now after that blitzkrieg spell of relentless attacking from Spain has calmed down.

Alba and Ona work well on Spain's right, but the Levante forward's ball into the middle towards Alexia is just a yard too far to the right and the promising move breaks down for La Roja.

Tere loses the ball to Rolfö who goes on a mazy, diagonal run from right to left towards goal, but she is eventually stopped by Irene Paredes and Ona Battle.

Replays show that Olga's thunderbolt was indeed deflected by Eriksson...

Sweden go straight up the other end and a long ball over the top is headed wide by Kaneryd, who is called offside by the referee.

It's gelling for Spain now, who are seeing a lot of good work done from their full-backs. Jenni drops and links up well, receiving from Ona before popping the ball off to Olga in the middle, who skims the frame of the goal from the edge of the box.

HUGE CHANCE!!!!

OLGA SHOOTS FROM DISTANCE

Alexia's outside-of-the-boot ball was delicious to the left side where it was looped over the heads of the defenders by Olga towards Alba, who sent the ball back across goal for the first gasp of the match!

Sweden clear their lines.

CHANCE FOR SPAIN!!!

The first ten have been quite a calm affair, with Spain seeming to settle into their rhythm as both teams try to figure each other out with tentative jabs from distance.

A delightful switch from Tere to Olga opens up the pitch and Spain start to tap, tap, tap the ball in tiny triangles on the left.

Mariona collects inside and lumps a cross-field pass to Alba, who can't get on the end of it before the ball flies out.

It's been Sweden with the majority of the possession as Spain sit off in something of a mid-block.

Jenni is patrolling as the spearhead of the attacking trio, keeping a close eye on the centre-backs as they rack up the majority of the passes.

First sniff of danger for either side as Blackstenius robs the ball in the final third and skips past Irene on the edge of the box, but her pass through the lines gets cut out by Olga.

The ball finally falls to La Roja, who work well from right to left before Mariona fires in a high cross over the heads of everyone.

Spain have only managed to head the ball so far, as Sweden continue to pelt them with high passes.

Spain press violently, as per usual. Sweden try a few long balls that are rebuffed instantly.

And we're off!

The first Women's World Cup semi-final is underway in New Zealand!

Spain are in red shirts, blue shorts and blue socks; Sweden, who kick us off from right to left, are in all yellow.

Time for the national anthems!

Spain up first, no lyrics, hummed well by all.

Sweden, on the other hand, do have some lovely lyrics, albeit the tune's a bit on a the slow side.

Teams are in the tunnel!

We're ready to go!

The warmups are over!

The teams are jogging down the tunnel and are getting ready to hear the final team talks before the first whistle!

Fifteen minutes to go!

Here's a reminder of the lineups:

SPAIN

Cata

Ona - Irene - Laia - Olga

Tere - Aitana - Alexia

Alba - Jenni - Mariona

***

SWEDEN

Musovic

Björn - Eriksson - Ilestedt - Andersson

Angeldahl - Asllani - Rubensson

Kaneryd - Blackstenius - Rolfö

Dressing rooms ready!

As predicted, Sweden are in their home strip of yellow, yellow and yellow. Lovely stuff.

What about the other semi-final?

The two other teams fighting it out in the final four are England and Australia, who will go head to head tomorrow, Wednesday 16 August 2023 at 6:00 a.m. ET/3:00 a.m. PT. 

WOMEN'S WORLD CUP 2023

Spain vs Sweden: times, how to watch on TV, stream online | 2023 Women’s World Cup

Here is the information you need if you want to watch La Roja go up against the Blagult in the 2023 Women’s World Cup semi-finals, as well as follow on our lovely live feed.

Jenni Hermoso pre-match quotes:

WOMEN'S WORLD CUP 2023

Women’s World Cup semi final and final ball released: Final Oceaunz

Adidas have revealed the ball that will be used in both the semi-finals and final of the Women’s World Cup 2023. 

Imaginatively labelled FinalOceaunz, the ball is strikingly similar to the edition used for all previous fixtures in the tournament.

However, as has become customary in football, a few design elements have changed on the surface at we get to the business end of what has been a truly historic tournament.

You may notice that there has been a slight change of colour to the originally white background, as the ball has now been tinted with yellow, red and gold, which Adidas say represents “the beauty of Australia’s and New Zealand’s unique terrain” as well as the trophy of the Women’s World Cup.

The ball will also be used in the third-place playoff game between the two losing semi-finalists.

For a full guide to the new ball, and some close-up pictures, check out the piece we created which explains everything you need to know.

Spain arrive at Eden Park!

Smiles all round for Spain as Aitana has a quick catch up with her Barça teammate Fridolina Rolfö. 

WOMEN'S WORLD CUP 2023

Sweden defender Amanda Ilestedt in Golden Boot race

Arsenal centre-back, AmandaIlestedt, has been one of the surprises in the goal-scoring charts during this edition of the Women's World Cup.

She has scored four goals in five games, one behind Japan’s Hinata Miyazawa, and looks like she could well take home the tournament's Golden Boot.

Andy's in-depth piece on the Ilestedt and the Golden Boot race is the perfect piece of pre-match reading for you.

Jorge Vilda pre-match quotes:

The poll is up and running!

We've got a semi-finals prediction poll on the go for you to give us your thoughts on the game.

Simply choose who you think will win and reply to the tweet with your score prediction and you could feature on the live feed if you manage to get it right!

Spain: who to watch

Of course we all want to see Alexia, Aitana and Jenni strut their stuff across the pitch for 90 minutes, but one player certainly keep an eye on is Real Madrid midfielder, Tere. 

The 23-year-old has played the pivotposition stupendously well for Jorge Vilda's side during the World Cup, filling what was deemed an impossible task at the base of the triangle.

She has even managed to get her name on the scoresheet, arriving from deep to the edge of the box and using her medium-range ballistic missile to fire rockets into various top corners around New Zealand.

The dressing rooms are ready!

Spain will play in red shirts, blue shorts and I think I spy red socks, which means Sweden will also play in their home strip.

And what is that in picture number two? A new ball? (more on that soon)

Sweden announce their starting XI:

GK: Musovicstarts in goal

DEF: Magda Erikssonleadsthebackline

MID: Asllanicaptains the side once again

ATT: Kaneryd, Blackstenius and Rolfö lead the line

WOMEN'S WORLD CUP 2023

Who is Edina Alves Batista, the referee for Spain vs Sweden at the 2023 Women’s World Cup?

The referee for today's game is EdinaAlvesBatista, who has been a FIFA referee since 2016.

The Brazilian's last game was 10 days ago, when Japan beat Norway in the quarter-finals.

Perhaps surprisingly, although we haven't seen a very rough and dirty tournament (no, I'm not looking at you, Lauren James), Batista has only shown 2 yellow cards in the 3 games she has taken charge of so far at the World Cup.

The stadium for the game...

Eden Park is the dramatically named stadium for today's tie. The 50,000 seater stadium was opened in 1900, which is 123 years ago for you maths nerds out there.

The semi-final will be the ninth and final game the stadium has hosted during the tournament, as England vs Australia will be held in Sydney (spoilers), where the final will also be played. 

Some of the standout fixtures at Eden Park include New Zealand's win over Norway, Portugal's historic 0-0 draw with the USWNT, as well as Sweden's most recent game, the 2-1 win over Japan.

Sweden: how they got here

Sweden were always one of the favourites to get out their group, given the relatively straightforward draw for a team of their ilk.

They beat South Africa in their opening fixture before thrashing Italy 5-0 on the second day to get their wheels spinning and their arrows pointing in the right direction.

The final group stage test was a win over Argentina, meaning they finished the first round with a perfect record and only one goal conceded. The form necessary to come up against the USWNT in the Round of 16.

And they did. It took penalties but they managed it, knocking out the record holders and consecutive champions after 120 minutes of play.

After that, their quarter-final game against Japan, the surprise package of the tournament, was seen as the ultimate banana skin.

Japan had shocked the world with ferocious displays of intricate, relentless attacking that had sliced apart everyone they had faced, but Sweden held strong and recorded a 2-1 win over their rivals, sealing their place in the final four.

Spain have to overcome history to get to the final:

La Roja have never beaten Sweden in their history: there have been 11 games played between the two sides, with Spain drawing 4 and losing seven. They have only scored 7 goals in that time while Sweden have racked up a whopping 33.

Full head-to-head record:

G11 W0 D4 L7 GS7 GA33

Here is the Spain starting XI!

GK: CataColl retains her place

DEF: Olga comes back into her left-back slot, moving Ona to her favoured right side

MID: Alexiastarts (!) alongside Aitana and Tere

ATT: Alba and Mariona will partner Jenni, who has moved forward to accommodate La Reina

Spain: how they got here

Spain have, it seems, finally got their wheels aligned with the tracks and are whizzing along like a steam train at full pelt.

In the previous round they absolutely battered a new-look Netherlands side and if it weren’t for an outrageous top corner effort from the centre-back, they’d have swept into the semi stage without any issues whatsoever.

But that goal did come, and it took a sweet Salma strike to seal the tie in the second half of extra-time.

They have beaten Costa Rica, Zambia and Switzerland on the way, with the blip of a4-0 slip up to Japan the only negative mark on their scorecard. Japan, however, are no longer competing in the tournament after losing to, ahem, Sweden in the previous round.

Hello!

Well, well, well… 

Hello and welcome to the ASUSA live coverage of the Women’s World Cup 2023.

We’re at the business end of what has been a fantastic tournament and today will be no different: it’s Spain vs Sweden in the semi-final!

You've got (a very excitable) Joe on duty today to take you through this game.