Team GB 0-0 Sweden
Friendly
Riverside Stadium
The warm up game between Olympic contenders Team GB and Sweden ended goalless this afternoon, where the emphasis was very much on match fitness, and making sure no players were overworked before next week’s group games.
Chances for GB stars Kelly Smith, Stephanie Houghton and Rachel Yankey were the highlights of an evenly matched game, in which Scottish defender Ifeoma Dieke was Player of the Match.
Thomas Dennerby’s Swedish side were without injured star striker Lotta Schelin, but were still able to create some decent chances to challenge the GB backline.
Powell’s team begin their gold medal campaign against New Zealand in Cardiff on Wednesday, whilst Sweden will start later that day, in Coventry.
Post-match thoughts and opinions
Team GB coach Hope Powell: “It was a very good contest. We were a bit nervous in the first half and played some good stuff, while in the second half the changes disrupted it a little bit but it was an even contest and we’ve learned some lessons. Ifeoma Dieke did well alongside Casey Stoney and Kim Little’s contribution was good but she could offer a little bit more. Everybody has put themselves in a good position to start [against New Zealand], we just have to see if everyone is ok, there is a depth to the squad which is a good problem for me.”
England midfielder and MotD analyst Sue Smith: “You could tell at times that the players were not going into things fully but they are playing the Olympics in a few days’ time so they didn’t want to get injured and that competitive edge was missing.”
BBC match commentator Guy Mowbray: “Not the best advert for the women’s game that – please remember it was a friendly / warm-up! Real stuff starts next Wed.”
BBC Sport Journalist Paul Fletcher: “0-0 between Team GB and Sweden. A historic first fixture, but lets hope there are some goals in their future fixtures, starting on Weds.”
England Women’s Supporter group The Gang: “Thoroughly enjoyed that. Now apparently there are some blokes playing in a bit, wonder if they’re any good ;-)”
Sports Journalism student Calvin Berry: “Decent warm up game. Few big chances missed for both sides. Both sides will be reasonably happy after the game”
Newcastle supporter Roddy Graham: “Decent friendly game. Both sides tired towards the end which made it more open. Encouraging for #TeamGB. Aluko looks a talent.”
more to follow.
Team GB XI: Bardsley (Brown 45), A. Scott, Houghton, Dieke (Bradley 64), Stoney (c) (Rafferty 84), J. Scott, Asante (Williams 45), Little, Aluko, White (Yankey 45), Smith (Carney 64)
Sweden XI: Lindahl, Svensson (Nilsson 45), Thunebro, Sembrant, Berglund, Fischer (c) (Levenstad 90), Dahlkvist (Almgren 59), Seger, Hammarström (Edlund 69), Asllani (Goransson 69), Jakobsson (Moberg 81)
POM: Ifeoma Dieke (GB)
What, No Beckham? 