It’s been seven years since Stena Blacksteinus of Sweden took gold at the European Championships.
Now she hopes to do it again.
– I’ve come to a place where I love to play the big games, says the 26-year-old.
The last time Sweden won the European Championship gold was in 2015. In the European F19 Championship, Sweden defeated Spain in the final after two goals by a narrow margin. Stena Blacksteins.
The Swedish striker also won the title of Queen of Shooting in the tournament.
There is a lot that has to be right in the tournament to get there and achieve these goals that you want to do as a striker. Then it always comes down to team performance. You don’t play a tournament unless the team is in a good place and doing their best football when needed, she says.
do not get nervous
Since then, the striker has become Sweden’s top scorer in the Olympic context with her seven goals and won both the quarter-finals and the quarter-finals of the 2019 World Cup.
So what makes Stina Blackstenius thrive so well in the big leagues?
– This is a difficult question to answer. I’ve come to a place where I love to play big games. There are so many times I’ve thought about this tension that I sometimes feel like I don’t have when it comes to such big matches, she says and continues:
– You become like “Why am I not more nervous?”. I’m going to play some of the biggest matches of my life and yet I don’t feel that nervous but I feel like I’m really enjoying life. I think I’m very good at bringing those feelings into the tournament and focusing so hard on what you’re going to do. Then it’s hard to answer what makes goals come in tournaments.
Aiming at Wembley
Last winter, the 26-year-old moved to north London and signed with big club Arsenal. This means that this summer’s tournament will be played in its new home and when Blackstenius enters this loadout, it will naturally and by weight.
I feel it was a positive development. It’s the kind of feeling I’ve been waiting for.
On July 9, Sweden began their European Championship adventure in Sheffield against defending champions Holland, and although the Swedish players are clear that it is important to play one match at a time, the goal is going further.
It’s July 31 when the European Championship final takes place in Wembley, London, but even a packed Wembley match won’t make Stena Blacksteins particularly nervous.
– Of course there is tension but the strong feeling that I think is really difficult does not exist. I think it’s more awesome. Feeling more excited. Of course, the goal is to reach the final at Wembley.
And then you know how to decide?
– Haha we’ll see. I wish I had a good feeling when it came to that, but it’s always hard to say beforehand.
Listen to a longer interview with Stina Blackstenius in English Sportbildit European Championship Podcast Fam Plus.