Soccer-Sweden out to silence partisan crowd and take home bronze medal

Soccer Football - FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 - Sweden Training - Spencer Park, Brisbane, Australia - August 18, 2023 Sweden's Amanda Ilestedt with teammates during training REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

BRISBANE (Reuters) - Sweden's dreams of winning a first Women's World Cup title were dramatically ended by Spain but they are out to ensure their impressive run does not end without silverware when they meet co-hosts Australia in the third-place playoff on Saturday.

The third-ranked Swedes are playing in their second straight bronze medal match, having finished third at the 2019 World Cup. They came up short in their title bid again on Tuesday, losing 2-1 to Spain in the semi-final in Auckland.