Caroline Seger had an injury-hit World Cup in New Zealand and in Australia – and there wasn’t really much playing time.
When the championship career was to end last year, it was with disappointment. There was no playing time in Segers in the bronze medal match in the WC against Australia.
And there weren’t even any match minutes when Sweden’s Nations League meeting with Spain was already decided, in her absolute last international match where loved ones were present.
It is something the 39-year-old is critical of.
– It was almost like sticking the knife in one more time and turning it over. But I think what hurt me the most was that I didn’t even get ten seconds, or 20. It would have been so easy, I think, in a situation like that. I’m not going to play anymore, my family is here. Can I just get a dignified finish on the pitch with my teammates? But no, says Caroline Seger i the documentary Captain Victory.
Kosovare Asllani also questions Gerhardsson’s handling.
– I like Peter very much. I think he is a fantastic person, but in that situation I think he made a mistake not to give Seger minutes in her final international match, she says.
Gerhardsson’s answer
Peter Gerhardsson responds to the criticism in the documentary and believes that it has to do with the fact that Seger was not playable.
– We will find out on the day of the match, then it falls away altogether. It’s not a thought about it, because in that match it will be very difficult.
He continues:
– It is of course sad if Caroline feels that way about her last match. As a coach, I never make decisions with bad intentions.
According to Caroline Seger, there was never any communication before the match about whether she had been able to play or not.
– I thought somewhere that that relationship was so good that in such a situation we thought alike without actually having to say anything, says Seger.
The national team career stopped at 240 international matches.