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Hartnett: Expect Fireworks In USWNT-Sweden Women's World Cup Showdown

By Sean Hartnett
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Friday night's Women's World Cup group stage match between the United States and Sweden should be everything soccer die-hards crave.

This is a heavyweight clash between two scoring-rich teams placed in the top five of the FIFA world rankings. Both clubs possess quick attackers and exploitable defenses. The Americans will look to get in behind Sweden's slow-footed backline, while the Swedes have the ability to capitalize on the counter attack if the USWNT comes out too gung-ho.

U.S. defenders will be acutely aware of the danger brought by the Swedes in set-piece situations. Sweden scored two of its three goals in its World Cup opening draw against Nigeria from set pieces. Even though Sweden looked collectively off the pace against the opportunistic Super Falcons, 5-foot-5 winger Kosovare Asllani will be a constant threat out wide. Asllani has the trickery and the blazing speed to torment flank defenders.

Besides the flair on display during the attack, this match should have a lot of bite. Sweden head coach Pia Sundhage stoked the flames ahead of Friday's showdown, serving up unfiltered barbs at her former U.S. players in an interview published by the New York Times. Sundhage, who led the USA to back-to-back gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics took aim at midfielder Carli Lloyd, branding her as "a challenge to coach." Additionally, Sundhage described controversial goalkeeper Hope Solo as "a piece of work."

What happens when you kick the hornet's nest? You get stung. This U.S. team doesn't need any extra motivation given its 2011 World Cup group stage defeat to Sweden. Particularly, Lloyd and Solo are fiery characters who have reputations of performing in big matches. Lloyd scored match-winning goals in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic gold medal games under Sundhage. A media firestorm has surrounded Solo following an Outside the Lines report detailing her arrest on charges of domestic violence in June 2014. Despite all of the negative attention surrounding Solo, she was locked in during Monday's 3-1 victory over Australia.

Led by the all-around efforts of star midfielder Megan Rapinoe and blessed with an abundance of darting runners, the United States should be considered favorites against a Swedish team that appeared to lack match fitness in its surprise opening draw.

WHO STARTS UP FRONT FOR THE U.S.?

It's very possible that USWNT head coach Jill Ellis will drop 35-year-old forward Abby Wambach to the bench. The decorated, all-time leading scorer in U.S. history struggled against the Aussies. Wambach did not seem to mesh well with forward partner Sydney Leroux, and she uncharacteristically missed two header chances.

Expect Ellis to go with a pacey forward combination of Leroux and Amy Rodriguez in a 4-4-2 formation. Having scored in her World Cup debut, Christen Press is also a possibility to start up front. Should Rodriguez play alongside Leroux, Press would remain on the right wing where she can offer support out wide and work crosses into the box. Oft-injured star forward Alex Morgan will continue serving as Ellis' "super sub."

WHAT'S NEXT?

Victory over Sweden would earn the United States a berth in the Round of 16. Currently, USA leads Group D with three points and a plus-two goal differential. Sweden and Nigeria have one point apiece and an even goal differential, while Australia has zero points and a negative-two goal differential.

A loss would put Sweden in a perilous position in what many have described as the "Group of Death."

Follow Sean on Twitter – @HartnettHockey

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