Stina Lennartsson was home on the sofa when she received the news.
The 25-year-old was selected for the Swedish national team.
– It was a shock, Lennartsson tells Sportbladet.
The 25-year-old Linkoping full-back has become the sensation in Peter Gerhardsons National team Stina Lennartsson was selected for the Swedish national team for the first time.
– It was just so crazy, I was lying on the couch lying down and all of a sudden the phone started flashing and vibrating. Then my teammate Neely Carlson called, “You’re on the national team!” Lennartsson told Sportbladet and continues:
– It was a shock. Fun too.
I haven’t spoken to Gerhardson
You weren’t aware of that at all?
– I knew there would be a choice, but I didn’t know when it would be. It was a shock, but I had a good season in Linköping and gained a lot of confidence. The coach said the Saudi football club is watching this, but I didn’t think anything would happen now, maybe in the future.
Have you talked to Peter before?
– No, nothing, says Lennartsson and laughs.
How often does the phone ring and vibrate?
– Now when we talk, it vibrates and blinks all the time.
Sweden will face Spain away on October 7 and France at home on October 11.
– It will be very interesting, of course, this is a dream that I dreamed of since childhood. But then you have to keep your feet on the ground and see this as a lesson to know what it takes to be with the best.
What do you think you can contribute?
– I’ll be myself and play as I do at Linköping. I won’t change in any way, just be myself.
“That thing you fought for when you cried and were in pain”
In the previous season before last, Lennartsson stretched the cruciate ligament when she played in Växjö. Since then, development has progressed rapidly.
– No, but he’s quite sick, it’s not long since I came back from a cruciate ligament injury and left Allsvenskan Stadium with Växjö. But that’s what I fought all hours in the gym when crying and hurting, to come back stronger and better than ever. I am very happy and proud of myself for getting out of this difficult period.
How hard was it when it was the hardest?
– It was very difficult, especially when I felt like I was on the way and in good shape. Then the injury happened in the second round of the series and I had to go through it again, as I had previously had the same injury before…
– But it was only to bite the bullet and drive.
Do you think it can be an inspiration to others?
Yes sure, it is more common to have a scar on your knee than not to have one. Needless to say, you can show that you should never give up and come back stronger than ever.
How are you going to celebrate this next?
– Amalie Vangsgaard and Nellie Carlson I stood outside with bubbles and flowers, No, I’m just kidding. I think watching the Champions League tonight will be enough.