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Sweden has officially earned redemption after a disastrous showing in the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The team with the silly goal celebrations (and top-shelf striker) defeated France 3-1 to claim third place. While the game wasn’t nearly as scintillating as last year’s Bronze Medal match between Uruguay and Germany at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, it did produce a few talking points and a pretty brilliant goal.

Nilla Fischer proved why she might just be the holding midfielder of the tournament.

The destructive defensive midfielder was at her best today and helped Sweden keep a stranglehold on the midfield battle. Fischer effectively closed down her opposite numbers Sandrine Soubeyrand and Elise Bussaglia, thereby eliminating the defensive buffer in France’s midfield. The 26-year-old ably disrupted France’s rhythm just as she had done against the United States. It makes you wonder how she would have performed against Japan (particularly in that second half) had she not missed the game due to a suspension. In a tournament that given rise to the 4-3-2-1 formation (just don’t look at the final for proof of that), Fischer has shown that there is still very much a place for an old-fashioned destroyer in a 4-4-2.

France could never adjust.

Outside of Elodie Thomis’ quality goal, it was a dour end to Les Bleues’ inspiring World Cup. France never took quite too flight against Sweden. Bruno Bini’s team couldn’t manage to unlock Sweden’s compact midfield and kept trying to force balls through the central channel rather than spreading play out wide. There may have been a good reason for that (below), but it was disappointing seeing a team that had been bursting with creativity prior to now look so devoid of ideas. And having a poor goalkeeper probably didn’t help. For Berangere Sapowicz, it was a sad end to a sad World Cup. France’s embattled goalkeeper had to be stretchered off with an ankle injury after conceding a goal to Lotta Schelin. Les Bleues are one decent goalkeeper away from becoming genuine world-beaters.

…and losing Louisa Necib didn’t help.

France’s mercurial midfielder suffered a knee knock early on in the match. The effects seemed to linger as she was substituted off at the 32nd minute. After that point, France’s central midfield seemed to be disconnected from the wings. Eugenie Le Sommer looked particularly marooned. Camille Abily had yet another quiet game and what has been an altogether dissatisfying World Cup from France’s no. 10. France could just never tip the scale in midfield.

Sonia Bompastor dabbled in some dark arts.

Bompastor’s initial kick at Josefine Oqvist and embellished reaction thereafter were shocking sights from the otherwise classy defender. Bompastor has an edge to her game that seems out of place alongside her serenity on the ball and intelligent defending. Just ask Kelly Smith.

Lotta Schelin deserves her spot in the tournament’s Best XI.

Sweden’s ace striker seems to draw comparisons with Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Other than the fact that they’re both big, play for Sweden, and score lots of goals, it’s hard to see why. Schelin’s imposing physical stature might give one the impression that she’s a lumbering forward with more brawn than brain. Quite the contrary. Schelin is actually quite agile and graceful. Her clever movement off the ball makes her a constant menace to defenders. The 27-year-old’s delicately taken goal today was class, too. Had Schelin not have had three goals called offside throughout the tournament, she would be in contention for the Golden Boot.

Sweden found their form when it mattered.

Thomas Dennerby’s side is suddenly the best team in Europe, at least according to how teams finished in the tournament. The team were at risk of getting burned by its lack of end product. But by the USA game, Sweden roared into life and blew the U.S. and Australia to bits. Japan nullified Schelin’s impact in the semifinals, but it’s a wonder how things would have panned out had goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl not committed those errs. Sweden remained defensively organized today (Sara Thunebro and Charlotte Rohlin had particularly good games yet again). And the 4-4-2 lives on.

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