Hammarström rocket earns Sweden third place

Sweden have finished third in the FIFA Women's World Cup after completing a 2-1 win against France in Sinsheim.

Although Thomas Dennerby's side were pegged back when Élodie Thomis cancelled out Lotta Schelin's opening goal, and Sweden's Josefine Öqvist was dismissed after 68 minutes, substitute Marie Hammarström's wonder strike decided the contest eight minutes from time.

The match had begun well for the Swedes, who had their opponents on the back foot for much of the first half, even if their goal came just as their dominance appeared to be waning. A fantastic diagonal pass from centre-back Annica Svensson enabled Schelin to race past Laura Georges and coolly flick the ball over the advancing Bérangère Sapowicz, who turned her ankle in the challenge and had to be replaced by Céline Deville.

France might have equalised on 37 minutes when Élise Bussaglia set her sights from 20 metres only for her curling effort to come back off the post, but Bruno Bini's team were level 11 minutes after the interval when Thomis latched on to Gaëtane Thiney's through ball and finished well. Sweden should have reclaimed the lead after 64 minutes when Öqvist, clean through on goal, hit the upright with Schelin better placed to score. To compound matters, Öqvist was then dismissed for reacting to a challenge by Sonia Bompastor.

Yet France were unable to make their superior numbers count and were punished when a corner was half-cleared to the edge of the area where Hammarström flicked the ball deftly over Eugénie Le Sommer before lashing it past Hedvig Lindahl with a thumping volley.