Sweden fight back against Italy but settle for third in World Cup qualifying

[p]A 2-1 defeat to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/denmark/W0rDArJ8/"]Denmark[/a] on Friday 5th June had ended [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sweden/hGWL8MmL/"]Sweden[/a]'s hopes of qualifying directly for the World Cup, as they sat third in the group, a point behind the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/italy/fiD8utDF/"]Italy[/a], who were hoping for a victory and a huge favour from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/serbia/nysgULwS/"]Serbia[/a] against Denmark to snatch top spot from the Danes.[/p][p]But as Denmark raced into a comfortable lead in Stara Pazova, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/italy-fiD8utDF/sweden-hGWL8MmL/?mid=E1LeFxfK"]the match in Gothenburg[/a] quickly became a battle for second place in the group, one that the Italians took command of in the final 10 minutes of the first half.[/p][p]First, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/di-guglielmo-lucia/dEIz4xsA/"]Lucia Di Guglielmo[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cantore-sofia/M3im5HW1/"]Sofia Cantore[/a] combined well down the right wing, before the latter played a low ball in behind the Swedish defence for [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/oliviero-elisabetta/2VUNC50n/"]Elisabetta Oliviero[/a] to fire in off the crossbar in the 36th minute.[/b][/p][p]On the stroke of half-time, the visitors went two goals clear as [b]Oliviero turned provider, digging out a cross from the left wing, which was met cleanly by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/piemonte-martina/bPrC8ar4/"]Martina Piemonte[/a][/b], heading the ball down and out of the reach of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/falk-jennifer/hpoFCieN/"]Jennifer Falk[/a].[/p][embed guid="6ec14fce-ec8a-41b2-ac0c-8da0386d2562" url="https://x.com/svenskfotboll/status/2064421096015671425" social-type="twitter" /][p]Sweden head coach Tony Gustavsson made several changes to his side, including bringing on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lundkvist-hanna/QBYv42Z4/"]Hanna Lundkvist[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rolfo-fridolina/CtQwaA8t/"]Fridolina Rolfo[/a], and it was the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-united/4EeCFcxJ/"]Manchester United[/a] duo who got the hosts back into the game with two goals in three minutes.[/p][p]An [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nilden-amanda/nwwZ71uj/"]Amanda Nilden[/a] corner 20 minutes from time was headed back across her own area by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/salvai-cecilia/EZTT9EE6/"]Cecilia Salvai[/a] to Lundkvist, who powered a header goalwards. [b]Goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/giuliani-laura/I5gBRkTN/"]Laura Giuliani[/a] turned the ball against the crossbar, but couldn't prevent it bouncing down and deflecting in[/b] off her body for an own goal.[/p][p]Playing with a new-found confidence, Sweden then won themselves another corner, and [b]Nilden's centre was met by the head of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/andersson-bella/YDWDJXd9/"]Bella Andersson[/a] - her effort was parried by Giuliani, falling kindly to the alert Rolfo, who fired the ball high[/b] [b]into the net[/b] from close range.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/blackstenius-stina/tvFnIayL/"]Stina Blackstenius[/a] and Rolfo were among those to go close to finding a winner late on, but Sweden couldn't complete the turnaround, meaning they finish third in the group on eight points from six matches.[/p][p]Sweden will head to the play-offs, scheduled to be held in October 2026. They will have to navigate two rounds if they are to make it to Brazil next year, starting off against a League C side who finished first or second in their group. The Swedes will need an upturn in form, having won two of their last 11 games.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/soccer/world/world-cup-women/"]Follow all the latest from the Women's World Cup qualifiers on Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]