Three Meatballs, plus One on Sweden

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1. They are getting better with every match: Despite the late loss against Germany on Saturday, Sweden showed a sense of urgency that was not evident in Kazan with Germany. They peppered Guillermo Ochoa’s net and their endeavor eventually paid off in the second half. They counterattacked against Germany as well, but against Mexico, they were far more clinical. Who knows? They could actually get even better.

2. They are a “Survive and Advance” team: I still believe they will be in “survive-and-advance” mode, but that’s how they got to the playoff against Italy and that’s how they qualified for this World Cup. They survived Saturday’s heartbreak and comfortably advanced on Wednesday.

3. They have exceeded expectations: Many thought Germany would finish first and a majority thought Mexico would come second. That turned out to be half right, but few would have guessed which half turned out right. Sweden have been doing what they have set to do throughout this tournament and were the most consistent team in the group. Germany only showed a sense of urgency for about a half hour against Sweden while Mexico looked world-beaters in the first two matches and egg-beaters in the third. South Korea didn’t disgrace themselves at all, though in the end it wasn’t enough, and they will go home with a win over Germany.

The +1: Sweden’s Defense: Andreas Granqvist was solid again and scored from the spot. Ludwig Augustinsson was at the right place at the right time on the first goal. Sweden’s defense as a whole has been mostly solid apart from Germany’s comeback on Saturday. They aren’t the flashiest side in the tournament, but they are a tight-knit group and are playing like it now.