class=”article_teaser__2t5do”>Having shared a number of closely-fought encounters, Al Hain-Cole expects a tight match between the Stars and Stripes and Gerhardsson's side
USA will be out for revenge when they take on Sweden in their opening Olympics group game at the Ajinomoto Stadium on Wednesday.
Winners of four gold medals and one silver at the previous four tournaments, the USWNT fell to a shock quarter-final defeat against this opposition at the 2016 Games in Brazil.
Sweden vs USWNT latest odds
Having picked up their fourth World Cup trophy since that defeat, USWNT are 4/11 (1.36) favourites with bet365 to put that disappointment to bed by coming out on top in Tokyo.
Peter Gerhardsson’s Sweden team went on to secure a silver medal in 2016 but are 13/2 (7.50) outsiders to get this tournament off to a winning start against the world champions.
That quarter-final was decided on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Brasilia, and you can get odds of 3/1 (4.00) on this clash also finishing up all square.
TV channel, live stream & how to watch
BBC Red Button Eurosport Player
The game is being shown live on the BBC Red Button service in the United Kingdom (UK). Eurosport Player will be streaming the game live online.
Click Here: nsw blues jerseySweden vs USWNT team news
The USWNT squad includes 17 of the players that lifted the 2019 World Cup, with the players averaging over 100 international caps apiece.
Nine of the 2016 team that defeated this opposition are included in the Sweden squad, with captain and all-time 215-cap holder Caroline Seger looking to lead by example.
Sweden vs USWNT preview
Although heavy favourites to go on and win their fifth Olympic gold medal this summer, Vlatko Andonovski’s side will know not to underestimate their opponents in Wednesday’s opener.
This pair are extremely familiar with one another after meeting six times in the World Cup and twice at the Olympic Games, playing each other 15 times over the course of the last decade.
While the Americans have a slight edge over that period with seven wins to their opponents’ six, April’s 1-1 draw against Sweden is the only match they have failed to win since January 2019.
Sweden vs USWNT tips & predictions
With seven of the eight most recent meetings being decided by one goal or fewer, odds of 4/5 (1.80) offer solid value on these foes producing under 2.5 goals for the eighth meeting in nine in another closely-fought clash.
All odds correct at time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.