Sweden vs Australia lineups, starting 11s for Matildas Women's World Cup third place playoff

2023-08-19
5 min read
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Sweden and Australia will conclude their World Cup campaigns in the third-placed playoff in Brisbane on Saturday August 19.

Whilst the third-placed playoff match always has a muted atmosphere, it is usually an entertaining match, and with co-hosts Australia involved, there should be a great and vocal crowd out in Brisbane to give a grand send off to the girls who have given them so much joy over the last month.

Australia has achieved their best ever finish at a World Cup, and their games have seen record viewing figures on television for any sport let alone football.

Sweden will also be keen to end their World Cup on a high, having come so close to a first final for 20 years.

Below are the starting lineups for both teams ahead of their match at Brisbane Stadium on August 19.

MORE: Sweden vs Australia live blog

Sweden vs Australia lineups

Sweden starting 11

Sweden starting lineup (4-2-3-1): 1. Zecira Musovic (GK) — 2. Jonna Andersson, 13. Amanda Ilestedt, 6. Magdalena Eriksson, 14. Nathalie Bjorn — 16. Filipp Angeldal, 23. Elin Rubensson — 19. Johanna Kaneryd, 9. Kosovare Asllani, 18. Fridolina Rolfo — 11. Stina Blackstenius

  • Injured: N/A
  • Suspended: N/A

It is always difficult to predict lineups for third place playoff matches, as coaches often use the game as an opportunity to rotate and give more minutes to players who haven't featured prominently at the tournament.

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This has not eventuated for either side, as both coaches have opted to make no chnages to their starting lineups from the semifinals

Can centre-back Amanda Ilestedt continue to chase the top goalscorer record, which would be a remarkable achievement for a defender!

Australia starting lineup (4-4-2): 18. Arnold (GK) — 21. Carpenter, 15. Hunt, 4. Polkinghorne, 7. Catley — 16. Raso, 19. Gorry, 23. Cooney-Cross, 9. Foord  — 11. Fowler — 20. Kerr

  • Injured: Alanna Kennedy (Concussion)
  • Suspended: N/A

Australia have used the fewest players of any side off the bench and generally rotated the least in the tournament, to the frustration of fans; and that has continued as Tony Gustavsson keeps the same side that started against England.

This means the likes of Courtney Nevin and Charli Grant will not come in for Ellie Carpenter or Steph Catley at full back, despite the pair struggling and showing signs of fatigue, while Clare WheelerTameka Yallop and Alex Chidiac will only get the chance to impress in the midfield off the bench.

Alanna Kennedy has once again been ruled out of the game like the semifinal, though this time it is due to delayed concussion symptoms.

MORE: 2023 Women's World Cup attendance tracker

What time is Sweden vs Australia kickoff?

The third placed playoff between Sweden and Australia will begin at 6:00 p.m. local time at Brisbane Stadium, the scene of Australia's famous penalty shootout win over France. Here is how that corresponds with regions around the world:

  Date Kickoff time
USA Sat, August 19 4:00 a.m. ET
Canada Sat, August 19 4:00 a.m. ET
UK Sat, August 19 9:00 a.m. BST
Australia Sat, August 19 6:00 p.m. AEST
India Sat, August 19 1:30 p.m. IST
Hong Kong Sat, August 19 4:00 p.m. HKT
Malaysia Sat, August 19 4:00 p.m. MYT
Singapore Sat, August 19 4:00 p.m. SGT
New Zealand Sat, August 19 8:00 p.m. NZT