However, it was the goalkeepers who found themselves the busiest players throughout the regulation 90 minutes. Sweden were the brighter side in the first half but could not find a way past Netherlands stopper Sari van Veenendaal. The captain routinely tipped over dangerous inswinging corners and instinctively saved with her foot a close-range toe poke from Lina Hurtig shortly before halftime.
Close chances: The Netherlands had to replace Lieke Martens, still suffering with a toe injury, with Jill Roord at the break but then the match began to open up. Sweden defender Nilla Fischer hit the post 10 minutes after the restart and Miedema had her header tipped on to the bar by the fingertips of Hedvig Lindahl. The 36-year-old keeper, who most recently played for Chelsea in England, was equal to the threat of a Dutch side who grew in confidence, particularly with the introduction of Olympique Lyonnais’s Shanice van den Sanden who flew down the right wing. Lindahl tipped over a fierce strike from the pink-haired Van den Sanden in second-half stoppage time. However, her resistance was finally broken by an excellent quickfire strike from Groenen in the first period of extra time.
The midfielder, who will feature for Manchester United in England’s top flight next season, chose the perfect time to register her first shot on target and first goal of the tournament. Despite playing in only their second World Cup, the Netherlands keep their incredible journey going with a final date against the record three-time world champions on Sunday. They already have a prize in a guaranteed place at their first Olympic Games next year in Tokyo. Sweden, meanwhile, will take on England in the third-place match in Nice on Saturday but they may be without striker Kosovare Asllani who fell awkwardly in the closing stages and had to be carried off the pitch on a stretcher.
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