After the 5–0 victory against Italy, Stina Blackstenius was almost forced to apologize to Anna Sandberg. It was when the Arsenal striker suffered a cramp that the national football team’s captain Peter Gerhardsson thought about it, and used his last substitution to bring Blackstenius off in place of left-back Jonna Andersson.
Häckenbacken Sandberg, who was already ready for a substitution, had to sit on the bench again while Rebecka Blomqvist was replaced.
“It feels a bit like taking a WC debut away from her,” said Blackstenius immediately after the match.
Already on
It was a bit sad that it turned out the way it did, says Sandberg a few days after the match. But the 20-year-old – she is the youngest in the Swedish WC squad – is already looking ahead to the next match.
— It is clear that it is very sad. I mean, getting to make a World Cup debut is something I’ve really dreamed of and am working towards right now. But hopefully the tournament will be long and it will be a match again soon. I get to aim at it.
Since Sweden has already secured advancement to the round of 16 before Wednesday’s meeting with Argentina in Hamilton, there are good opportunities for the championship debutant to get his first World Cup minutes.
— It’s clear that I’m very busy. Then I don’t really know what Peter and the management think. But if I get a chance to play, of course I’m incredibly excited about it. I feel very ready for it, says Sandberg.
TT: Have you gotten any hint that it might be playing time?
— Yes, a little like that. They have tried to encourage me that it is a new match, that I should take new steps. Then I don’t want to charge in advance that there will be games. But at least that’s what I’m working on and aiming for now. Hopefully I’ll get the chance.
No thought for the WC
Things have gone fast for the nimble full-back. The first time she was selected for the national team was for this year’s January camp in Portugal, and the first A international game came against China in February.
Once the WC squad was presented, Sandberg was one of the few exclamation marks.
— This is something that people have dreamed about, and nothing that I might have thought about before this year. Everything has, as usual in my career, gone very quickly and to be here with this fantastic team and these leaders is just incredible fun. I try to enjoy it as much as possible.