At least USA avoid Germany, admits Wambach

WOLFSBURG (AFP) - USA striker Abby Wambach has said her team's shock 2-1 defeat to Sweden could be a blessing in disguise as the Stars and Stripes now avoid champions Germany in the women's World Cup quarter-finals.

Sweden stunned two-time winners the USA in their final Group C game here on Wednesday, but both teams march into the quarter-finals, where the Americans now face Brazil and Sweden play Australia.
Sweden took the lead here when midfielder Lisa Dahlkvist netted a penalty after 15 minutes and the Swedes extended their lead on 35 minutes when captain Nilla Fischer fired in a free-kick which deflected off a US player.
The Americans pulled a goal back when 31-year-old forward Wambach netted in the 67th minute for the 1991 and 1999 world champions, but it was not enough.
"We are just happy to be in the quarter-finals, although we would have loved to have finished top of the group," said Wambach, who has now scored 119 goals for her country.
"Germany are on the other side of the draw, so we are just excited about that opportunity."
The result leaves Sweden as group winners after three victories and they play Australia in Augsburg on Sunday, the same day group runners-up the US play the Brazilians in Dresden in a mouth-watering tie.
After her player-of-the-match performance against the USA, Olympique Lyon striker Lotta Schelin said there was no relief amongst the Swedes at missing out on playing unbeaten Brazil in the last eight.
"I haven't really thought about it, we are just focused on playing Australia," she said.
"They can play well too, you can compare them to Brazil, so they are all we are worrying about."
Having already beaten the USA in January in China, Schelin said her side had been confident of upsetting the former world champions again.
"It was a wonderful game, we saw some really nice goals and it was a good performance by both teams," she said.
"We really respect the USA, but at the same time we knew we could beat them.
"The win in January gave us confidence and we knew we could do it again."
After her side managed to convert just one of the 20 chances they created against Sweden, USA coach Pia Sundhage said her team must inprove their finishing—starting with Brazil.
"What we will be talking about from now on is getting to the final, we need to get sharper and step up, starting against Brazil," said Sundhage.
"We could have been a bit more patient, especially in the attacking third, we were too eager to knock the ball into the box.
"We have to work on that."