Five years of work has led Peter Gerhardsson and Magnus Wakeman here, and there’s not much to complain about.
The Swedish national team travels to Sheffield with a team experience, competition and invaluable working well in their baggage.
There was also room for a Rising Sun story.
How is it now said “good for Swedish football”?
Much has been “good for Swedish football” since Peter Gerhardsson and Magnus Wyckmann took charge of the national team after the European Championship 2017. Partly a game-like development that allows Sweden today to compete with anyone in the world, even the United States, who were shaken to wake up last summer.
Since then, the competition has intensified, which in turn means that it has been difficult to predict who will be in the team for the European Championship 2022 (actually “2021”, but the pandemic has postponed more events than weddings and birthdays).
Has Madeleine Gannuji proven to be enough? Philippa Cormark? Rebecca Bloomqvist? Anyway, it was last on the list that Gerhardsson and Wakeman finally made Thursday night.
More “Wow!” Of which
It wouldn’t surprise anyone who’s followed international matches in recent years that Joanna Ritting Canried, who used the Olympic pitch as a lighter fluid, is part of the team. The 25-year-old is eager to handle himself and is never afraid to challenge his opponents head-on. Overall, I evoked more “Wow!” moments. Compared to Janogy which is unfortunately set aside.
Well, no Anna Unvegaard either? Unfortunately, the Everton player’s team timing cannot be described as stable, mainly due to injuries. When she’s in full swing, she definitely does a part on the team (eg, a great effort during the Olympics in Japan), but the national team captain clearly feels others are betting on him.
For me, he’s a completely different player stealing the spotlight here. No, I’m not talking about our biggest stars, Fridolina Rulfo, Stena Plaxtenius, Magdalena Ericsson or even Kosovar Aslani.
Proof that it works
Few are as inspiring as Ellen Robinson. During the France World Cup 2019 I became a safe embrace of madness, someone who took to the arenas in Rennes, Nice and Paris and delivered exactly what was expected centrally on the track. After the matches, the quarterback stood quietly – yes, almost uninterrupted – and answered questions as if it were a Saturday afternoon at the Valhalla IP.
Then she became pregnant, which inevitably detracts (at least) one season from the career of female footballers. The journey the body is forced to go through, both physically and emotionally, should not be underestimated. Therefore, it was great to see Ellen Robinson wearing the national team jersey again after 784 days of absence.
She, with her diligent work, has become clear evidence that it is possible to return to the highest level even for those who want to get pregnant.
When the names of the EC band were read out at a Stockholm radio house, Robinson sat on the West Coast and examined Polybomba with his son Frans. Despite injury concerns over the past season, it is symbolic that Gerhardsson and Wakeman chose her over a handful of others.
Sweden arrives at Bramall Lane in Sheffield in July with well-functioning play style, competitive attacking and a team that should be in full swing. As well as a calm, reliable and life-experienced spirit who will give everything when needed.
