A scoreless draw with England was enough to see Sweden book their place in the semi-final of the women’s blind football on day four of the IBSA World Games.
Qualification on goal difference gave reason for the Swedes to celebrate their draw as if it was a victory, while elsewhere in women’s football a prolific Japan – who are yet to concede a goal at the World Games – continued their hot form with a 4-0 victory over Morocco.
In men’s blind football, Japan and Thailand produced an excellent demonstration of ball control but only a single goal separated the two sides as Japan ran out 1-0 victors, while Italy emerged on top in an entertaining 2-1 triumph over Turkey, Argentina and England played out a 0-0 draw in front of the biggest crowd of the day at the Bournbrook pitches at University of Birmingham, and China overcame Germany 2-0 thanks to goals from Zhang Jiabin and Zhu Ruiming late on in both halves.
Over at University of Wolverhampton’s Walsall Campus, the goals continued to come in partially sighted football as Spain beat Italy 4-1, Ukraine hit three past Türkiye, and England overcame rivals France by four goals to one.
RESULTS IN FULL – Thursday 17th August
Women’s blind football
Japan 4-0 Morocco
England 0-0 Sweden
Men’s blind football
Thailand 0-1 Japan
Turkiye 1-2 Italy
Argentina 0-0 England
China 2-0 Germany
Partially sighted football
Italy 1-4 Spain
Ukraine 3-0 Türkiye
France 1-4 England