NICE, France - Kosovare Asllani set Sweden on its way to a 2-1 victory over England for third place in the Women's World Cup on Saturday night, but she almost didn't play in the bronze-medal match.
Asllani was taken off the field on a stretcher with a head injury during Wednesday's semifinal loss to the Netherlands in Lyon and was taken to the hospital. After Saturday's win, the 29-year-old midfielder revealed that as late as Friday she was told she wouldn't be able to play in the match at Stade de Nice.
"Yesterday, I got a no about playing from our medical staff. But we did the test again today and it was positive," an emotional Asllani said. "I felt it was going to take a lot for me to miss this game, but I really gave it my all and I feel in every percent of my body that I've given it all."
It's the third time Sweden has finished third at the Women's World Cup, with the team also earning bronze in 1991 in China and in 2011 in Germany. The country's highest finish at the tournament was second place in 2003 in the United States.
Asllani gave her team the lead in the 11th minute as it took advantage of early struggles by England.
England defender Alex Greenwood had plenty of time to clear Fridolina Rolfo's cross but sent it straight into the path of Asllani, who drilled it into the bottom right corner. Goalkeeper Carly Telford got a hand on it but couldn't keep it out of the net.
Sweden was up 2-1 when Asllani was substituted out at halftime.
"When I got another hit on my head in the first half I felt like, 'Nah, it's time for someone else to get in,'" Asllani said. "I'm proud of the team and proud of myself and just everything right now. I got another knock, but everything is worth it right now."
Sofia Jakobsson had doubled Sweden's lead in the 22nd minute before Fran Kirby halved England's deficit in the 31st minute when she cut in from the right, beat her defender and curled in off the base of the left post.
Star forward Ellen White thought she had tied the score two minutes later, but her goal - which would have been her seventh of the tournament - was ruled out after the video review determined there had been a handball. White also had what would have been an equalizing goal ruled out in Tuesday's 2-1 semifinal loss to the United States.