Sweden knocks Portugal out of the World Cup in a very competitive game
The match only had its first goal at four and a half minutes, in a seven-meter free kick in favor of Sweden. Portugal responded effectively and at 11 minutes were winning by 6-4, 8-7 at 15 minutes, but were already losing by 9-8, at 17′. Portugal returned to the advantage and even secured the minimum advantage of 14-13 at the end of the break.
In the second half, the score continued without an announced winner, with the two formations alternating the advantage successively. At 40 minutes, the tie persisted at 18-18, but at 42′ the difference was already 4 goals, 22-18, in favor of the Nordics.
Portugal’s life in this World Cup was starting to get complicated, and the second position in Group II was getting further and further away. The Portuguese hope was maintained, and the ten minutes of the end Portugal lost by 23-26. At 54′, the control was just one goal (26-27) and the Portuguese team was still dreaming. But at 55 minutes, Sweden was already winning by 29-26 and by 31-27 at 57′. In the end, 32-30, the result was ungrateful, but it ended up rewarding an excellent performance by Portugal against the European champions.
Sweden won Group II, with eight points, two more than Iceland, which goes to the “quarters”, and than Hungary. Portugal finished with five, followed by Brazil, with three, and Cape Verde, with zero.