The decisive goal came in dramatic fashion. Following a corner kick, it was Griedge Mbock who found herself in the right place at the right time, leading to the match’s climactic moment.
This heart-stopping goal arrived in the 96th minute. Although the referee had signaled for three extra minutes, the final whistle was delayed due to injuries and substitutions that interrupted play.
For Sweden, the defeat marked a troubling third consecutive loss under the leadership of new federation captain Tony Gustavsson. Stina Blackstenius, who came off the bench to net Sweden’s only goal in the second half, expressed her disappointment. “Of course I’m incredibly disappointed with how the match ended,” she remarked.
Elena Sadiku, a pundit for SVT, succinctly condemned the outcome, calling it “tragic.”
Controversial Penalty
France’s opening goal was the result of a contentious penalty kick awarded to Sakina Karchaoui just before halftime. The foul was committed by Anna Sandberg, who brought down Kadidiatou Diani, igniting a lively discussion in SVT’s studio about the legitimacy of the call.
Looking ahead, the second leg of the Nations League’s bronze medal match is set to take place at 3Arena in Stockholm on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the final match between Germany and Spain, played simultaneously, ended in a frustrating stalemate, with neither team able to find the back of the net.
