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The Independent UK

Joe Levy

Netherlands vs Sweden prediction: How will Women's World Cup semi-final play out?

The Netherlands will play the United States for the Women's World Cup title after Jackie Groenen sealed a 1-0 victory over Sweden in extra-time on Wednesday night.

A slick passing sequence ended in the 99th minute with Groenen driving a shot from outside the penalty area past goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl.

The goal that broke the deadlock in a sweltering stadium set up a meeting between the European champions and the reigning world champions. Re-live the action below:

2019-07-03T16:49:12.480Z

Good evening and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of Netherlands vs Sweden in the Women's World Cup semi-finals.

The Netherlands are into last four after seeing off Italy in the quarter-finals and in Vivianne Miedema and Lieke Martens have two of the very best players in the tournament.

They won't have it all their own way against Sweden, however, after they knocked out Germany to reach the semi-finals for a fourth time.

The victors will meet USA in Sunday's final after the 2015 winners beat England on Tuesday night.

We'll have all the latest updates from Lyon throughout the evening.

2019-07-03T17:26:53.650Z

Let's first take a look at last night's dramatic semi-final where the USA clinched a 2-1 win over the Lionesses of England. Here's how it happened:

USA knock England out of the Women's World Cup

2019-07-03T17:37:29.630Z

Lionesses put women's football on the map

But it wasn't all bad news for the Lionesses. Their semi-final against the USA was the most watched television programme of 2019 so far drawing in an audience of around 12 million people.

England vs USA the most watched television programme of 2019

2019-07-03T17:44:57.320Z

Lucy Bronze 'completely disagrees' with criticism of England's penalties

In the dying minutes of the first semi-final, England were awarded a penalty after VAR showed Ellen White had been knocked in the box.

Captain Steph Houghton stepped up to take it only to have her shot saved. It was the third penalty England missed during their World Cup campaign and certainly the most costly.

Understandably their penalty takers have found themselves under a microscope but England right-back, Lucy Bronze, 'completely disagrees' with the criticism they've been getting.

Here's what she had to say:

Lucy Bronze responds to criticism of England penalties at World Cup

2019-07-03T17:54:20.833Z

More lessons for England

"I’ve moved on from this already,” Phil Neville said in the post semi-final press conference. “I've started [looking forward] already. I was in a room this afternoon planning the next two years. It's the way I work. It's fast.”

But surely, those are hollow words from a manager who's entire driving force was to win the World Cup with England.

Once Saturday is out of the way, it will be time to slow down and return to this defeat with a cold, analytical eye.

But what lessons can England take from their defeat?

USA defeat shows Phil Neville and England still have lessons to learn

2019-07-03T17:58:09.490Z

Netherlands vs Sweden

But that was yesterday, England went out and the USA await for either the Netherlands or Sweden, but who will it be?

Predicting how Netherlands vs Sweden World Cup semi-final will go?

2019-07-03T18:05:04.620Z

Netherlands vs Sweden team news

Netherlands

van Veenendaal, van Lunteren, van der Gragt, Bloodworth, van Dongen, Groenen, Spitse, van de Donk, Beerensteyn, Miedema, Martens

Sweden

Lindahl, Glas, Fischer, Sembrant, Eriksson, Bjorn, Seger, Jakobsson, Asllani, Hurtig, Blackstenius

2019-07-03T18:14:26.243Z

Team news

Netherlands make only one change to the starting XI that saw off Italy in their quarter-final. Shanice van de Sanden drops to the bench with Lineth Beerenstyen replacing her.

There's two changes for the Swedish team that stunned Germany in the quarter-finals. Nathalie Bjorn and Lina Hurtig come in to replace Elin Rubensson and Fridolina Rolfo.

2019-07-03T18:15:13.620Z

Team news

Here's a look at the two teams, side-by-side:

2019-07-03T18:30:05.920Z

How did they get here?

The European champions, the Netherlands, won Group E with three wins out of three before overcoming Japan in the round of 16.

They faced a surprising side in Italy during the quarter-final but came away with a 2-0 victory to set up this clash with Sweden.

Sweden, for their part, came second in Group F after losing against the USA. They defeated Canada 1-0 in the last 16 before coming from behind to shock Germany 2-1 in the quarters.

Now they face the Netherlands, who knocked them out of the 2017 European Championship with a 2-0 quarter-final win.

2019-07-03T18:34:22.216Z

'It's going to be an incredibly cool semi-final'

Sweden manager Peter Gerhardsson, who studied in Rotterdam, called the Netherlands one of his favourite footballing nations.

"I could talk at length about Holland," he said. "In 1974, when I was 15 and I watched Holland v West Germany [in the men's World Cup final], that was one of the greatest footballing experiences of my life.

"And from that World Cup final I have always been incredibly fascinated by Dutch football - Johan Cruyff and everyone.

"I was there throughout the European Cup (Euro 2017) and seeing that final between the Netherlands and Denmark, that was amazing because that football that was played in that final was very close to our ideal.

"It is going to be an incredibly cool semi-final and it's going to be fun to see if we can beat one of my favourite countries when it comes to football."

2019-07-03T18:40:10.570Z

Head-to-head and match facts

The Netherlands are unbeaten in the past three meetings between the sides, winning two of those.

They knocked Sweden out of Euro 2017, with a 2-0 win in the quarter-finals. Lieke Martens and Vivianne Miedema scored the goals and both start tonight.

This is Sweden's fourth World Cup semi-final - only USA (eight) and Germany (five) have reached more.

Sweden have had eight different goalscorers at the World Cup so far - only USA (10) have had more.

Eight of the Netherlands' 10 goals at the World Cup have come in the second half.

2019-07-03T18:49:17.936Z

Danger women

Lieke Martens and Vivianne Miedema hold the biggest threat for the Netherlands. They both scored last time the teams met and Miedema was on the score sheet for the Netherlands' vital 1-0 win over Italy.

For Sweden, Sofia Jakobsson and Stina Blackstenius are a formidable attacking duo. Both scored to send Germany home and after a long goal draught Blackstenius now has two goals in two games.

Can she continue that run tonight?

2019-07-03T18:52:08.800Z

Ten minutes until kick off

The stats would give the edge to the European Champions but only Germany and the USA have reached more World Cup finals than Sweden.

I think it'll be a fairly even contest with the Netherlands seeing more of the ball and Sweden looking to counter attack.

It could go either way but I think the Netherlands will take it.

Who doesn't want a World Champions vs European Champions final? Sweden I suppose

2019-07-03T18:56:53.860Z

Netherlands 0 - 0 Sweden

The teams come out onto the pitch, the anthems are sung, the crowd applauds.

The Netherlands vs Sweden is next.

KICK OFF

2019-07-03T19:01:42.893Z

Netherlands 0 - 0 Sweden

Kick off: Elin Rubensson starts for Sweden. Nathalie Bjorn was due to start but is too ill apparently.

The Swedes, in blue and yellow, get the game started winning a throw in on the left wing. The Netherlands, in their typical orange, defend the throw and win a goal kick.

2019-07-03T19:04:22.866Z

Netherlands 0 - 0 Sweden

3 mins: Spitse gives the ball away as she tries to play in Martens but the Netherlands win it back and win a free kick. They play it quickly and find Miedema on the edge of the box, she shoots with her right foot but sends it wide.

2019-07-03T19:06:34.940Z

Netherlands 0 - 0 Sweden

6 mins: Rubensson pulls off a good turn in mid-field and Sweden are allowed to run into space. Jakobsson gets the ball in the right side of the box but van Dongen defends well, getting in close and forcing Jakobsson to play the ball backwards.

2019-07-03T19:09:32.506Z

Netherlands 0 - 0 Sweden

9 mins: van der Gragt slides in on Blackstenius as the Swedish striker tries to get past her. Sweden win a throw in on the right wing, it comes to Asllani who gets the cross in. No-one meets it in the middle but it does come to Hurtig. Hurtig tries to run the ball back into the box close to the byline but she runs the ball out of play.

2019-07-03T19:11:52.746Z

Netherlands 0 - 0 Sweden

12 mins: Silky football from the Netherlands gets Miedema into the box with space to shoot. She puts the ball onto her right foot but before she gets her shot off, Seger comes in from behind and wins back to ball with a well timed challenge.