The last time Sweden met Germany in a competitive fixture, it was during the semi-finals of the EURO 2013 tournament, in which the Blågult were serving as hosts. Unfortunately, Pia Sundhage's ladies were unable to lift the title in their home country, as a first-half goal from Hungarian-born midfielder Dzsenifer Marozsán was enough to fire die Nationalelf on to the finals and eventually lift their sixth consecutive - and ninth overall - European title after defeating Norway.
Despite being ranked as the no. 5 team in women's football, Sweden, who are making their seventh appearance at a World Cup, have yet to ignite so far in Canada. They barely squeaked through to the round of 16 after three straight draws and as a result of their disappointing showing in a tough quartet that also included the USWNT and Australia, as well as Nigeria, will now have to find a way past Germany if they wish to make it to the quarter-finals. Their record against the top-ranked women's side is quite poor; with 15 losses and just six wins ahead of their 22nd meeting this Saturday in Ottawa.
In the group stages at this summer's World Cup, they scored as many as they conceded: four. Meanwhile, Germany outscored their opponents by a whopping 15 goals to one, with the solitary one given up during a 1-1 draw with Norway. Certainly, the Germans had an easier group, especially with debutants Thailand and the Ivory Coast not surprisingly proving to be no match as they were thrashed 4-0 and humiliated 10-0 as opposed to Sweden's tougher grouping.
However, Sundhage, who made it all the way to the finals in 2011 whilst coach of the USA only to lose to Japan will hope her team, and especially captain Lotta Schelin, who is her nation's all-time top scorer to finally get going if they want to have any chance of making it to the quarter-finals and beyond. On the opposite side of the pitch will be another highly esteemed coach: Silvia Neid. The 51-year-old former midfielder has been coach of Germany since 2005 and has a highly impressive record, including two EURO titles and one World Cup won back in 2007.
Yet, after experiencing heartbreak on home soil as Germany were shockingly defeated by Japan - who, interestingly, also managed to overcome Sweden - Neid will be keen on making amends as Germany seek to become the first country to win both the men's and women's World Cups in successive years.
Sweden have never won a World Cup. Their best finish was a runners' up spot at the 2003 edition. And the winner twelve years ago? Germany. Yet, back in March, they were finally able to get some revenge on the Germans by beating the 4-2, with braces from Caroline Seger and Sofia Jakobsson enough to cancel out early goals from Marozsán and Simone Laudehr.
However, a week later in that same month, Germany again got the upper hand by powering past them 2-1 to bring the Swedes back down to Earth, and as things stand, the momentum is firmly in favour of Neid's side ahead of what should be an exciting clash in Ottawa this weekend.
Will Sweden finally be able to get the better of Germany? Or will the no. 1 women's side sweep them aside as they chase their third World Cup title and make history as the first team to win three trophies? Make sure you do not miss out on this entertaining round of 16 clash by bookmarking LiveSocccerTV.com's special Germany vs. Sweden page for all your broadcast information.
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