It all comes down to a showdown between North America and Europe for the coveted Olympic gold medal in the women’s football final at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games all set to take place on Friday.
Sweden and Canada will lock horns in the Japanese capital to decide which national team’s players wear the gold medal at the end of the match.
🍁#CANWNT to face SWE in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Women's Football Tournament Gold Medal Match.🥇
📅5 Aug 10 p.m. ET | 7 p.m. PT
📺LIVE on CBC#Tokyo2020 #RiseHigher pic.twitter.com/oYJXf0rHx2— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) August 2, 2021
Both teams have had strong performances at Tokyo 2020 right from the very start and have deservingly booked their berths for the final match after overcoming the United States and Australia in the semifinals respectively.
As both teams prepare for the final showdown in the women’s football final at Tokyo 2020 on Friday, FootTheBall takes a look at how both of them stack up ahead of the crucial title decider.
TEAM NEWS
The Swedes are on a 5-match winning run in the Olympic Games this summer in Japan. They have let in just three goals, having scored 11 goals to make their way into the final.
𝗛𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗞𝗔
Första gången någonsin ett svenskt fotbollslandslag tar 𝙛𝙚𝙢 𝙧𝙖𝙠𝙖 𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 i ett stort mästerskap! 🇸🇪#Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/leMKquxjaG
— Svensk Fotboll (@svenskfotboll) August 2, 2021
Peter Gerhardsson will have no selection headaches ahead of the title decider as he has got the full squad to choose from.
SWEDEN WOMEN PROBABLE STARTING LINE-UP (4-4-2): Lindahl; Glas, Ilestedt, Bjorn, Eriksson; Jakobsson, Seger, Angeldal, Rolfo; Asllani, Blackstenius
Meanwhile, Canada are on an unbeaten run of their own having not lost a single match until now in the Olympic Games. The North American side have not trailed for even one minute at Tokyo 2020 until now – the only team to achieve this feat.
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again…
🇨🇦 Canada beat USA for the first time in over 20 years. 7,449 days to be exact.
💪 Today's #MondayMotivation is brought to you by @CanadaSoccerEN @Olympics | #OlympicFootball | #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/UTX0N56tyP
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) August 2, 2021
Like Peter Gerhardsson, Bev Priestman also has her entire squad to choose from when it comes to Friday’s final in Tokyo on the back of their first ever win against the USWNT in 20 years in the semi-final.
CANADA WOMEN PROBABLE STARTING LINE-UP (4-4-2 DIAMOND): Labbe; Lawrence, Gilles, Buchanan, Chapman; Scott; Fleming, Quinn; Sinclair; Beckle, Prince
GAME CHANGERS
STINA BLACKSTENIUS
For Sweden, the one who possesses the ability to get hold of the game by the scruff of its neck and turn the tables is definitely the 25-year old BK Hacken forward Stina Blackstenius. She has, until now, scored four goals for Sweden and delivered one assist in four matches in their run to the final.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CRtv5AHjvK1/?hl=en
And once again she will be leading from the front (quite literally) for the Swedes as they attempt to win their maiden gold medal at the Summer Olympic Games on Friday when they take on the Canadians in Tokyo.
CHRISTINE SINCLAIR
Christine Sinclair is the one who all Canadians will be looking up to for inspiration ahead of the all-important final in Tokyo. The seven-time FIFA World Player of The Year is playing in what is probably her last Olympics tournament and will be raring to go come Friday.
The 38-year old veteran has scored one goal for Canada (in her 300th international match for Canada) at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games and will be looking to add to that tally in the title decider.
She is the all-time leading goalscorer at international level in football with 187 goals and it will be a fitting farewell from the Olympics if she leads Canada to the gold medal on Friday.
PREDICTION
Sweden enter the final as slight favourites ahead of Canada given their winning streak in Tokyo 2020 throughout the group and knockout stage until now.
Expect the match to go right down to the wire in Tokyo, as Sweden break the hoodoo related to triumphing in final matches once and for all by clinching a narrow victory over a hard-working and industrious Canada.
FootTheBall’s prediction: Sweden 2-1 Canada (a.e.t.)
