BBC pundit and Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall will be cheering against England in their Women’s World Cup semi-final. At least according to former Lioness, Fara Williams, whose celebrations alongside Alex Scott riled up Sweden-born Eidevall while watching his country lose to Spain.
Eidevall, who has been in charge of Arsenal since 2020, was a bundle of tense energy during Sweden’s semi-final against Spain. The match remained goalless until the final 10 minutes, when three quickfire goals saw the Spaniards prevail 2-1 to book their spot in the final.
Goals from Salma Paralluelo and Olga Carmona sealed it, rendering Rebecka Blomqvist’s 88th-minute equaliser meaningless. At full-time it emerged that Scott and co were ‘dancing on the chairs’ when Spain took the lead.
That seemed to antagonise Eidevall, who will watch on with anticipation when England face Australia in their own Women’s World Cup semi-final on Wednesday morning.
“Jonas actually wants Australia to win now because of our celebrations,” joked Williams while on punditry duty for the BBC, as Scott added: “He’s not talking to me anymore.”
Smiling, Eidevall replied: “After Alex was dancing on the chair, I felt like we were not really team Sweden here anymore!” Defeat came as a crushing blow for the Swedes, who were gunning for their second Women’s World Cup final after previously making it in 2003.
“At the end of the day it’s a game, we want to play good football and to win the game. That’s mainly what we will focus on.”
England recorded wins over Haiti, Denmark and China in the group stages before hard-fought victories against Nigeria and Colombia in the knockouts. The Lionesses are gunning for their first-ever World Cup final, where Lauren James would be free to make a comeback after serving a two-match ban.
