Sweden was once again close to a final and a chance to get that gold that has appeared like a mirage in many championships. But nothing will happen. Instead, Spain must go to Sydney and chase a WC gold, and for the Swedish part, it’s about breaking down and trying to rise to Saturday’s bronze medal match.
Sweden is one of the pioneering countries in women’s football and they have undeniably won their medals. The European Championship gold in 1984 was the first. Since then, they have taken a number of silver and bronze medals in the EC, WC and Olympics. You are almost always in the fight far, far ahead in championships, but nothing has ever come of salvaging that gold.
“Been something that was missing”
Carson. Frankfurt. Gothenburg. Rio. Lyon. Tokyo. Sheffield. Some of the places where it has ended and it has often been bitter and heavy for the national team to pack up. Of course, it was possible to celebrate from a distance when you stood there with a medal around your neck, but there has been something missing.
Expectations were rightly turned down before this summer’s WC. There were more question marks than exclamation marks. During the tournament, Sweden grew and with them come expectations and hopes. Both in the national team and from everyone who follows them. Quite naturally, but now we can add Auckland to the above list.
Understand that Kosovare Asllani is tired of championship tears. There have been many over the years. Way too many. Over time, the analysis is probably that it was not done well enough, but in a match of this nature it could have swung in both Sweden’s and Spain’s direction. Must lift the jump-in by Salma Paralluelo who decides for the match that tipped over to the Spanish part.
“A lot of chance that decides”
Nevertheless, it is very much chance that determines when the post goes to Jonna Andersson and up to Paralluelo. She finished quickly and low and in my world her team-mate is offside, but a VAR check gave the go-ahead to the Spanish 1-0 with just nine minutes remaining. Perhaps wrong to complain considering the margins Sweden had in the WC, but it stings that it was doubtful.
Jumping in Rebecka Blomqvist gave us hope back. She made it 1-1 after substitute Lina Hurtig headed down Fridolina Rolfö’s cross and the match clock had ticked up to 88 minutes. Extra time and penalties were within reach in a semi-final that both teams controlled at times, but where the Spaniards were the best. Nevertheless, it cannot be said that Sweden was without a chance, rather the opposite.
“It was weak Swedish defensive play in several areas”
Then Spain got a corner. Sweden’s defense was not involved in a simple variant where Olga Carmona sneaked up. She was given plenty of time to measure the shot that went in an arc and Zecira Musovic could only tip it over the crossbar and in. 2-1. Crazy Spanish joy and despite seven additional minutes it was never close to 2-2. It was weak Swedish defensive play in several areas, but of course it can happen in the 89th minute of match six in the World Cup, even if it shouldn’t.
If this was the last chance for a gold for Sweden? I really hope not for Swedish women’s football, but for many of the players, it is very doubtful if you will be there in two years when the EC awaits in Switzerland. Olympics then? Sweden has Spain in its Nations League group and you have to win it to have the chance to reach Paris 2024. I didn’t count on Sweden’s ladies in Paris.
“He depresses for 36 hours”
Peter Gerhardsson spoke at a press conference about the feeling from France 2019. To win that last match and bring home a bronze after a heavy loss in the semi-finals. A small consolation, but a consolation nonetheless. The confederation captain was aware that he is depressing for 36 hours and then the desire for revenge is awakened.
Swedish men’s football had a period after World War II when it was one of the world’s best national teams. The Olympic gold in 1948 was followed by a ten-year period when they won World Cup silver, World Cup bronze and Olympic bronze, even though Sweden exported professionals and had to start over again and again. The Swedish Football Association wanted amateurs and only for the home World Cup did they allow foreign professionals.
“The fear exists”
After the World Cup silver at Råsunda in 1958, Sweden took the World Cup bronze in 1994 and reached a World Cup quarter-final in 2018. Add to that a European Championship semi-final in 1992 when there were only eight teams in a championship where the national team was directly qualified. The fear is that Sweden’s ladies will slide down the rankings in a similar way as the men have done, and especially when more national teams storm forward.
There is a lot that unfortunately speaks against Swedish football regarding the climate and the number of inhabitants and that is why you get to see the greats in Sweden deliver medals as they did. If it is to be like this in the future, new generations of players need to step up to the national team and show that Swedish football can keep up. It won’t be easy, but it goes without saying that no one should give up.
Read more about the WC at The soccer channel.