WINNIPEG, Manitoba — As Sweden’s coach, Pia Sundhage, stood with her arms crossed Friday during warm-ups, the Americans running onto the other end of field before a 0-0 tie in the Women’s World Cup were more than just familiar opponents.
Before returning to her native Sweden, Sundhage, 55, had coached the United States to second place at the 2011 Women’s World Cup and to gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2012 London Games.
She called the Americans “the best team in the world” on Thursday and added: “The reason I’m sitting here is the U.