
Confederation captain Tony Gustavsson presents the squad and emphasizes the need for stability during the generational change.
AI-generated summary
Sweden's women's national team has had a weak qualifying period and is forced into a playoff to reach the WC 2027. The team is in a generational change marked by injuries and dropouts.
Sweden's women's national soccer team has been forced into a playoff for a place at the WC 2027.
Only two wins in six qualifying matches did not impress this spring. It was only a third place in the group for a team that - in the middle of a generational change and also marred by injuries and dropouts - has been unrecognizable.
When confederation captain Tony Gustavsson on Tuesday presented the squad for the first playoff meeting, of two possible, against Lithuania, he was self-critical:
- There have been too many changes in too short a time.
- Our analysis is that we have to slow down, see what is in front of us and focus on a short-term performance.
Neither he nor the rest of the national team management hesitates about the direction, he says.
- We will build a new team at the same time as we make it to the WC.
But there have been too many changes, both ones he has chosen himself - and forced ones.
When the team gathers on Monday, it will be without three seasoned players: Kosovare Asllani (injured), Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (injured) and Fridolina Rolfö (pregnant). Question marks also exist for Filippa Angeldahl (slightly injured), but the midfielder is in the squad.
Positive for Sweden, however, is that centre-back Nathalie Björn is back after a nine-month injury absence.
Björn has played three minutes for his Chelsea since his return.
- But she has more match minutes in her, says Gustavsson.
- It is extremely gratifying that she is back.
In Kosovare Asllani's absence, Björn becomes team captain.
- She has been team captain together with "Kosse" so she is given number one, says the national team captain.
He adds about the centre-back's importance to the group:
- When I took over (autumn 2025), we saw that we had a big generational change ahead of us. And then Nathalie Björn's and "Kosse's" roles were invaluable.
- So Nathalie Björn's leadership means a lot, not least against the young centre-backs, Bella (Andersson) and Elma (Junttila Nelhage) - who I also think have made fantastic debuts. But it's clear that having a steady, experienced team captain to lean on helps enormously.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Sweden meets Lithuania in the playoff for a WC place.
Very likely · Within weeks

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