Germany vs. Sweden, Women’s World Cup: Live stream, game time thread, how to watch

The World Cup quarterfinals conclude today with two all-European matches, as Italy takes on the Netherlands early before Germany faces Sweden just after noon.

Germany and Sweden will complete the quarterfinal field in what feels like a throwback. These two teams have four World Cup final appearances between them, with Germany winning the tournament twice (including a 2-1 victory over this same opponent back in the 2003 final). In the history of the Women’s World Cup, one or both of these countries have made it to the semifinal in every tournament save for 1999.

The big news for Germany is that playmaker Dzsenifer Maroszan, one of the world’s best players, is back after breaking her toe against China in their opening match. That’s big news for a German team that, despite winning all four of their games and not conceding a single goal, have looked merely competent rather than like the favorite they’re supposed to be.

Sweden shook off a loss to the United States in Group F to beat Canada 1-0 in a game that showed their dogged determination and composure. While Canada seemed to have the game in control at halftime, Sweden regrouped and finally started finding Kosovare Asllani in dangerous spots. That’s who created the game’s only goal, and Helvig Lindahl did the rest, saving Janine Beckie’s penalty as Canada effectively hit the self-destruct button.

On one hand, it’s going to take more than what we’ve seen out of the Swedes for them to spring an upset. On the other hand, if Germany has rushed Maroszan back and doesn’t get an effective game out of her, Sweden has the mental strength and tactical clarity to progress. It’d be an upset, but it wouldn’t be a giant shock.

Location: Roazhon Park (Rennes)

Kickoff time: 12:30pm Eastern

Available TV: Fox Sports 1, Telemundo

Available streaming: If you subscribe to fuboTV via this link, your friends at B&RU get some cash!

Here are your other options: Fox Sports Go, Fox Soccer Match Pass, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo

Update: The Netherlands rode their set piece play to a 2-0 win over Italy. While the first half was fairly even, both teams were clearly drained by 90+ degree temperatures on a sunny day in Valenciennes. With their finishing betraying them in open play, the Dutch got two headed goals — one from Vivianne Miedema, and the other from Stefanie van der Gragt — out of Sherida Spitse’s many free kick services.

The Dutch, in their first-ever World Cup semifinal, will face the winner of Germany and Sweden next Wednesday, July 3.

Italy have gotten to this point through being solid and opportunistic. They didn’t get rattled when Australia took a lead on them in the group stage, and they didn’t let a loss against Brazil throw them out of whack heading into the knockout round. The Italians dealt pretty intelligently with China’s physicality in a 2-0 win to get here, but it’s safe to say today is going to be the sternest test they’ve faced in this tournament to date.

The Dutch, meanwhile, survived what is arguably the game of the tournament in the Round of 16, beating Japan 2-1 in a duel between two teams committed to playing entertaining soccer. Lieke Martens scored both goals after going scoreless in the group stage, including holding her nerve on a 90th minute penalty kick. Much has been made of the Dutch attack, but the fact is that it’s been a group effort, as no one has more than two goals.

As with today’s later game, this is not just a quarterfinal. Europe’s qualifying process for the Olympics is simply to take the top 3 finishers from this World Cup and send them to Japan next summer. That makes this a winner-take-all Olympic qualifier, as if a World Cup quarterfinal needed any help to be more important.

Location: Stade du Hainaut (Valenciennes)

Kickoff time: 9:00am Eastern

Available TV: Fox Sports 1, Telemundo

Available streaming: If you subscribe to fuboTV via this link, your friends at B&RU get some cash!

Here are your other options: Fox Sports Go, Fox Soccer Match Pass, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo

For listings in other countries, check out LiveSoccerTV.com.

What are you drinking?: This early start time is a killer for me, an adamant fan of sleeping in on the weekend. Coffee.

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