The Matildas will look to secure a spot in an Olympic final for the first time tonight, along with a chance at redemption against Sweden.
Let's analyse our upcoming opponents.
Ready for a classic rematch
Topping a group containing two other Olympic semi-finalists (Australia and United States) is one thing, yet with every challenge Sweden have faced so far, there's been a feeling of comfort and composure. As the other three quarter-finals were undecided after 90 minutes, the Scandinavians were allowed to sit back and watch their competitors battle it out for a spot in the semi-final.
Undeterred by facing an inspired Japanese side wanting to make amends after an underwhelming group stage, Sweden took the lead early through a header by forward Magdalena Eriksson.
READ: Ultimate Guide: Australia v Sweden (semi-final rematch)
Despite a Japanese equaliser late in the second half, the Swedes rallied and took the lead early in the second stanza, with Rolfö playing an exquisite ball across goal to star striker Blackstenius, notching up her second assist, in a match-winning performance.
Such is the confidence of Gerhardsson's side and fitness after much rotation in their last group game, the hosts never managed to stay with the tempo of the Scandinavians as the match progressed with Asllani sealing the deal with a third goal, this time from the penalty spot.
What you need to know about their squad:
Coach Gerhardsson is not afraid to make a late selection shock or two to keep the opposition side guessing. After securing qualification for the knockouts, the 61-year-old decided to drop six starting players from the line-up that faced Australia, before their next game against New Zealand. The fact that the replacement team still managed to win and keep a clean sheet, says a lot about the depth within the Sweden squad.
Will Gerhardsson look to drop any of his starters again? Australia's coaching staff won't know that answer until an hour before kick-off, proving to be a major mind game within a match that possesses so much anticipation.
MORE: Tony Gustavsson: "I know how this team can dig deep when it comes to grit"
Just like Australia, Sweden's squad looks in good shape despite the quick turn-around between each match. From what we know, the formation will be a 4-3-2-1, with an emphasis on squashing Australia's ability to play the ball through the middle with five central midfielders.
Getting past Sweden's defensive block, who have conceded just 3 goals in their 4 games played so far, may well prove to be the toughest task yet for Australia coach Tony Gustavsson and his team.
Strengths and weaknesses:
One of the things many people have been impressed by is how well Sweden's attack performed against such elite opposition.
Gerhardsson's side scored nine goals across the three group stage matches, with five different players getting on the scoresheet. The only semi-finalist who has scored around the same region of goals, is the Australians, with eight (four different goal-scorers).
What makes the team stand out amongst their competitors is the efficiency in which they have produced goals. Sweden has a shot conversion rate of 19% in the women’s tournament at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the highest of any team that still remains in the competition and three percentage points higher than Australia (16%).
Japan’s problem in the quarter-final was their inability to contain Sweden’s progression, which gradually increased as the match progressed, leading to sustained waves of yellow and blue attacks. The Matildas will need to shake off the tiredness from a 120-minute quarter-final and stay with the Swedish intensity throughout.
In terms of weaknesses, one fact about Sweden is they leave their best performances til the latter stages, having been level at half-time in each of their last four encounters. If the Australians can start the match strong, there is a worry that the Swedes may struggle to catch up on any lost ground.
As seen in the two goals scored against Gerhardsson's team in the group stage, Sweden find it difficult to combat the aerial prowess of Australia along with the Aussies' preference to play along the sidelines. Sam Kerr has scored four headed goals already this tournament, with the Australian captain proving already to be the greatest threat to Sweden's defensive dominance.