After 31-31 against the Netherlands, Sweden finishes second in the group and starts the main round of the World Cup on Thursday against Kazakhstan.
The Netherlands, Sweden and Puerto Rico, which came in the top three in Group D, merge with Norway, Romania and Kazakhstan, which became the top three in Group C, and form a new group game where two quarter-final places are in the pot.
The teams take with them the points they have collected against the other two teams that have moved on from the group, which means that the table right now looks like this:
1: Norway 4 points +39
2: Netherlands 3 +40
3: Sweden 3 +38
4: Romania 2 +10
5: Kazakhstan 0 -49
6: Puerto Rico 0 -78
- It would of course have been optimal to win against the Netherlands and get both points.
But now we have to go all in to win all the other matches, says Swedish midfielder Carin Strömberg to SVT Sport.
Here are the conditions:
Norway is the big favorite to win the group and take one of two quarter-final places.
Two wins are enough to secure advancement.
Sweden will pinch one of the quarter-final places if they win at least as many matches as the Netherlands and collect at least two balls to even out the goal difference.
Should Sweden and the Netherlands stand on the same points and the same goal difference when the main round is finished, the number of goals scored throughout the tournament will decide instead.
Romania can get involved in the battle for the quarter-final places.
But then you most likely have to beat both Sweden and the Netherlands and score many goals.
This is how Sweden plays in the main round:
Thursday 9/12: 20.30, Kazakhstan
11/12: 20.30, Norway
13/12: 18.00, Romania