Amanda Ilestedt | FIFA Women's World Cup | Semi-finals | Sweden | Spain
FIFA

Ilestedt - the unlikeliest adidas Golden Boot contender

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Amanda Ilestedt: Sweden's unlikely scoring sensationAmanda Ilestedt: Sweden's unlikely scoring sensation
Defender on celebrating 'like a child' every time she finds the back of the net, goalkeeper Zecira Musovic's exceptional form, and the strong team spirit within the squad.Defender on celebrating 'like a child' every time she finds the back of the net, goalkeeper Zecira Musovic's exceptional form, and the strong team spirit within the squad.

The Swedish defender has gone from preventing goals to scoring them – and now she's within sight of the adidas Golden Boot.

  • Sweden centre-back Amanda Ilestedt has scored four goals this tournament

  • Ilestedt is one goal behind Hiyata Miyazawa in the adidas Golden Boot race

  • She told FIFA her success is down to a fully functioning set-piece machine

Amanda Ilestedt's goalscoring form has provided another intriguing chapter in a tournament full of surprises.

Prior to the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™, the Swedish defender had not scored in any of her previous seven appearances in the competition. The 30-year-old has now scored four goals in five matches for the Swedes, and is one behind Japan's Hinata Miyazawa in the race for the adidas Golden Boot. Not that Ilestedt is complaining. “I feel like a child every time I'm scoring,” she said.

The secret? Highly functional set-pieces that have become one of the most effective at the tournament. “We have a lot of good players in there, so I know that [every set piece] is a good chance and [I'm] staying focused in that,” she explained.

Check out the video above to hear more from Ilestedt about her side's belief, and her thoughts on Zecira Musovic's performances in goal.