You can find everything about the World Cup in football: Competition news, topics, Futistietäjä, program, results and statistics on ‘s World Cup website.
Zesira Musovic know that one night can change a whole life.
This has already happened to the Swedish goalkeeper at least twice. The first time fulfilled the dream of playing at the highest level, the latter made him world famous.
At the beginning of the summer heat, there was reason to expect that Musovic’s place in the women’s World Cup football would be in the background, on the bench. As the tournament progressed to the playoff stage, he had already earned his spur.
Then came the quarterfinal against the United States. The reigning world champions, the powerhouse of women’s football, were eliminated right after the group stage. The main reason for that was Musovic.
– Yes, what the hell happened… I don’t really know myself, Musovic answered the question of Viaplay’s upset Swedish journalist after the victory, while Abba was playing at the Melbourne stadium.
The previous 120 minutes of the game had been Musovic’s display. Trinity Rodman solid shot. by Lindsey Horan continuation at a speed of 92 kilometers per hour. by Alex Morgan header just before the end of the actual game time. by Lynn Williams place in the exciting follow-on match and of Sophia Smith company at close range.
None of these were enough, but Musovic saved an incredible 11 times. Because of him, the match went to a penalty shootout in a 0-0 situation. There, the American edge did not last, but Sweden marched on.
After the match, practically everyone was talking about Musovic, the best player of the match, who became a direct media phenomenon. In one night, the goalkeeper’s Instagram account grew by more than 100,000 followers.
– The night after the match, I didn’t sleep much. So much happened at once and a storm of emotions swirled in my head. However, I am used to quickly focusing on the next match, and this is no exception, he told the international media.
Now Musovic has saved four matches in the World Cup. Two goals have been scored behind him, between which he kept a clean sheet for 339 minutes. There have been no losses on the way to the top four, but in front of Musovic, first the United States and then Japan – the three most recent world championship winning countries – dropped out of the Games.
Big brother didn’t care about cultural differences
Musovic is a Serbian player from a family of four children. He is the only one born in Sweden. The others were born in Serbia, then Yugoslavia, before the family fled war in the Balkans years before Musovic was born.
A new home was found in Helsingborg. There, the wall of the big brother’s cafe is now decorated with the little sister’s jerseys from around the world.
– Mother and father left everything without knowing where they would end up. There was a lot of uncertainty. That’s why they are my biggest role models. It was nice to get offers to represent the Serbian national team, but the choice was easy. My biggest dream has been to represent Sweden and give something back to the country that helped my family, Musovic has said In an interview with The Guardian.
The football hobby started late, at the age of 9, because table tennis first attracted him. However, when the game started, the gifts of nature took over.
Musovic was initially introduced to the sport by his nine years older brother, the most important supporter of his career. Otherwise, the attitude around was more or less rude.
– They said I couldn’t. They said it shouldn’t. Soccer is not for girls. I grew up in two different cultures, which was difficult. My love and passion for football has been questioned many times, Musovic said on his Twitter account in the video he published.
– My stubbornness and determination made me pursue my own dream, even though they wanted me to pursue something else.
Musovic was only 13 years old when she jumped into the women’s games. At that time, he had barely established himself as a goalkeeper after playing as a midfielder until his teenage years. He debuted in Sweden’s high-class main league just a couple of years later.
– I was a field player until I was probably 12 years old. Our goalkeeper got sick and I went to the goal. I played moderately and made some nice saves. That’s when I started to appreciate and enjoy that role, so I stayed on target, he said Chelsea website).
Before rising to stardom, Musovic studied economics at the prestigious Lund University. He has also served on the board of a Swedish football club, as an expert on TV channels and as a columnist.
With the current position, the emphasis has shifted to utilizing visibility. Musovic is trying to act as a role model and an enabler, as the front of a project that develops girl players. She is also active on social media – quite colorfully – and has even been to Bosnia to talk about the development of women’s football.
– It’s not about a lack of love, but it can be about culture, ignorance or economic reasons, Musovic explained the background of his project For Dagens Nyheter.
– I don’t care if the girls become soccer players, veterinarians or salespeople. The most important thing for me is that they have permission to dream, because I know for myself what dreams have meant to me.
The campaign has also produced results in close circles. Just like the world around us, attitudes in the Musovic family have changed over time. Nowadays, for example, a mother is as important a supporter as an older brother, and it was to her that Musovic called the morning of the USA match to get into the right frame of mind.
Chelsea fell in love in a training match
In 2017, Musovic visited the London area as a player for Rosengård. At that time, the Swedish team met Chelsea in a training match, which at least was remembered by Chelsea’s coaching staff.
That season, Chelsea won the championship, but the preparatory match was not easy. Rosengård fought for a 2–2 draw. Twenty-year-old Musovic, on the other hand, saved the penalty kick and convinced Chelsea’s head coach by Emma Hayes.
The name was recorded, but the long-term interest of the London club remained in the dark from the player himself.
– That’s when we saw young Zecira for the first time. We immediately saw his potential. After many years of monitoring, we are sure that he fits the profile of a Chelsea goalkeeper. He is determined and wants to be the best, Hayes described when the transfer took place later.
Now Musovic lives on the outskirts of London. He is tied to Chelsea at least until 2025. In the same team, there are many other stars of the World Cup tournament, including the host country Australia Sam Kerra Swedish teammate Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and England Lauren James.
The move to Chelsea was a leap into the unknown. When a spot opens up in the world’s best series, you almost have to grab it. However, there were no guarantees. The previous responsibility as the number one goalkeeper was history at the giant club, which chooses its players as it pleases. Chelsea have celebrated championships, but Musovic has not been able to shine.
At Rosengård, Musovic had made a name for himself as the team reaped success from the assembly line. He had already joined the Malmö club at the age of 16 and continued in the same circles for eight years, from teenage to adulthood, winning three consecutive Finnish championships and three cup championships after them.
At Chelsea, the competition for playing minutes has been dull. During two seasons, the Swede has scored in a total of 19 matches. Germany national team goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger was already waiting when Musovic arrived in London. He has also held fast to his position. At the beginning of July, Chelsea acquired the Belgian national team goalkeeper Nicky Evrard and just a couple of days later the England national team of Hannah Hampton.
Musovic is the second youngest of the four. The great World Cup tournament is now coming to a favorable conclusion, and the ousting of a more experienced veskar is no longer a stranger. He has already done that in the Swedish national team, where Hedvig Lindahl fought exclusively for years.
Lindahl, who made his debut in the A national team in 2002, played all the games in the previous four prestigious tournaments, but is not participating in this tournament at all. Instead of him, the defense responsibility has been transferred to Musovic, whose first competitive matches as a playing goalkeeper are already memorable.
– I am satisfied with my career so far, but you can always improve. I am proud of the Swedish championships. Now my goal is to be the national team’s number one goalkeeper. I want to win a prestigious tournament like the Olympics or the World Championships. I also want to be the best goalkeeper in the world, Musovic your line already in 2019.
You can find everything about the World Cup in football: Competition news, topics, Futistietäjä, program, results and statistics on ‘s World Cup website.