Sweden will not qualify for Group A at the World Cup next season.
The decisive match was against Finland 1-3.
– Now I’m very disappointed, says SVT goalkeeper Emma Soderbergh.
Emma Soderbergh played brilliantly and made 39 saves in the 3-1 defeat of Finland.
But a mistake ten minutes into the match was costly. Finland’s star Jenny Herekowski threw the so-called autumn leaf from the blue line – which found its way into the goal at 1-1.
– They get a random target. I completely lose the disk, and I can’t even find it, says Soderbergh at SVT.
“Sad to lose”
HV71 forward Kiira Yrjänen shot 2–1 unmarked in front of the Swedish goal.
The women’s crowns pushed for the equalizer, but Lulea star Noura Tolos made it 3-1 with just three minutes left in the game.
– It’s sad to lose. You always want to win the last game of the season. Looking at the entire tournament, we are growing and making strides. I’m proud of all the girls,” says SVT’s Hannah Olsson.
Left in group B
Anna Kilbene made it 1-0 after just 48 seconds, but it wasn’t enough. Finland finished fifth in the World Cup and returned to Group A in the following tournament after being relegated last year.
– We have to make sure we eat more, catch up and pass Finland, says national team captain Ulf Lundberg at SVT.
Sweden continues in Group B next year, with the three highest-ranked teams advancing to the quarter-finals. All five teams from Group A are directly qualified for the playoffs.
– We took eighth place in the Olympics. The seventh is in the last water cycle and the sixth is now. The climb continues, Lundberg says.