<\/p>\n
She was named player of the match after a heroic effort at goalkeeper for Sweden in a thrilling 5-4 penalty shootout victory against the United States on Sunday. <\/p>\n
But Swedish goalkeeper Ze\u0107ira Mu\u0161ovi\u0107 was asked an odd question that wasn\u2019t even about her incredible performance or that of her teammates in the aftermath to the game. <\/p>\n
One journalist asked the goalkeeper if she knew former Swedish football star Zlatan Ibrahimovi\u0107.<\/p>\n
EVERY RESULT AND FIXTURE: All the latest from the Women\u2019s World Cup<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n PATH TO GLORY: Matildas\u2019 next rivals locked in<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n START TIME: When do Australia play their Women\u2019s World Cup games?<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n USA KNOCKED OUT of WC by millimetres! | 00:47<\/p>\n \u201cIn Sweden, everyone knows Zlatan,\u201d Mu\u0161ovi\u0107 replied.<\/p>\n BBC Sport journalist Emma Smith later revealed all journalists in attendance were allowed to ask a total of three questions to the Swedish hero.<\/p>\n \u201cI was sat two seats along from the journalist who asked this and could not believe what I heard,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cUtterly disrespectful after an incredible performance and a remarkable match\/result. Also, we only got three questions to Mu\u0161ovi\u0107 at the press conference. One of them was this bollocks.\u201d<\/p>\n The same reporter also asked Mu\u0161ovi\u0107 about something more relevant to the game itself, questioning whether she had said anything to the US players during the shootout.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the mental part of the game [that] is huge in the penalty shootout. You do what you\u2019re allowed to do,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Mu\u0161ovi\u0107 later told reporters she had a \u201cgood feeling\u201d before Sunday\u2019s stunning win.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were facing a really tough opponent today and somehow we managed to get to the penalty shootout, where we showed a lot of courage,\u201d said Mu\u0161ovi\u0107.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m extremely proud of the girls that we could go there and win the game. \u201cIt\u2019s a huge win for us. I had a really good feeling before the game.\u201d <\/p>\n Sweden now faces Japan in a quarter-final on Friday at Eden Park Outer Oval.<\/p>\n WALSH RETURNS TO FULL TRAINING, SET TO RETURN FOR ENGLAND<\/b><\/p>\n Meanwhile, Keira Walsh will be available for England in their last-16 Women\u2019s World Cup clash against Nigeria on Monday as long as she shows no adverse reaction to returning to training.<\/p>\n England\u2019s key midfielder was stretchered off in agony in a 1-0 group-stage win over Denmark with what was feared to have been a serious knee injury.<\/p>\n But scans found the Barcelona star had not been badly hurt and just over a week on she resumed training on Sunday, in a huge boost to England\u2019s World Cup hopes.<\/p>\n Coach Sarina Wiegman declined Sunday to disclose the exact nature of the knee injury but said: \u201cShe\u2019s doing well. She started to rehab straight after we knew what was going on.<\/p>\n \u201cShe was on the pitch and training today.<\/p>\n \u201cNow we\u2019ll wait to see how she recovers from that training session and if she does well then she\u2019s available for tomorrow.\u201d <\/p>\n Wiegman switched England\u2019s usual 4-3-3 formation to 3-5-2 against China because of Walsh\u2019s absence and it paid off with a handsome 6-1 win.<\/p>\n Whether she retains the same set-up against Randy Waldrum\u2019s Nigeria remains to be seen given the threat of Barcelona goal machine Asisat Oshoala and the dangerous Uchenna Kanu in attack.<\/p>\n Wiegman is especially wary of Nigeria — who defeated co-hosts Australia 3-2 in the group phase — on the counter-attack.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re quick, they\u2019re pretty physical, so those are things we really need to be aware of,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Wiegman said a series of shock results at the World Cup, including early exits for Germany, Brazil and Canada, were proof that England could not afford to take lower-ranked Nigeria lightly.<\/p>\n England are European champions and one of the favourites to win the World Cup but Wiegman cautioned: \u201cWhat we\u2019ve seen in this tournament is that nothing is easy.<\/p>\n \u201cThe growth of the game is shown at this tournament.<\/p>\n \u201cWe haven\u2019t had any easy games at all and we don\u2019t expect an easy game tomorrow. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be very competitive and we need to be at our best.\u201d<\/p>\n England vs Nigeria LIVE blog! Can\u2019t see the blog? Click here!<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n