Fewer Allsvenskan players than ever in the Swedish EC squad

Ten years ago, 14 of 18 players in the Swedish Olympic team in the UK belonged to damallsvenska clubs.

In the Olympics in Japan last year, it was ten out of 22.

In this year’s European Championships, the players with a Swedish club address are fewer than ever. When national team captain Peter Gerhardsson presented his 23-player squad in June, only five had played Damallsvensk during the spring.

It’s about the Hedgehog Trio Elin Rubensson, Jennifer Falk and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, as well as about the Rosengård stars Caroline Seger and Olivia Schough.

Left-back Jonna Andersson has returned home from English Chelsea – but is ready to play for the new club Hammarby only after the championship.

– A lot happens in Europe, and there are a lot of resources in the big clubs. If the damallsvenskan is to keep up, things must happen there as well, but there I think Häcken has shown that they want to keep up with that journey, says veteran Elin Rubensson – back in the national team after maternity leave.

– There are many who talk about having to go to Europe quickly, but it is absolutely possible to play at a good level at home as well.

Yes, to show that one still can reach the European Championships even without belonging to teams like Arsenal, Barcelona or Bayern Munich is important, say several players.

– It may be good that younger players can see that you do not have to move abroad to join, says goalkeeper Jennifer Falk.

– It is absolutely important to show that even though you play in damallsvenskan, you can keep a high level, adds debutant Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.

She has not skyrocketed with that she wants out in Europe.

Others, such as national team captain Caroline Seger and Rosengård friend Olivia Schough, have returned to Sweden from professional adventures.

– The most important thing is to belong to a good team. Of course, it would have been more difficult for me to be here if I had stayed in Djurgården, says Schough.

– But it is good that we are a few left from the Allsvenskan and that it works to play in Sweden and still keep the national team level. There will be some matches with a lot of goals, but that’s what it looks like in all leagues. It’s more about what goals you set for yourself.

When the reigning champion On paper, Rosengård faces worse teams, she challenges herself in other ways, says Schough.

– It could be that “now I will make si and so many passes, goals or assists”.

– We know that we in Rosengård are a team that has a lot of ball. Of course, we take every match very seriously – but if we meet a worse team in the table, and if we notice that balls roll in quite easily, then I have a plan before the match about what I should do.

And does it usually go well?

The 31-year-old laughs.

– It usually works. I think it is important to have such goals as well, to constantly push oneself to new levels.

The Swedish EC squad travels to the EC on Sunday. The championship takes place July 6-31.