shout. It might be a championship, it might be Holland on the other side.
A fateful match? No, they will probably come later.
Stina Blackstenius will be in the Swedish starting line-up – but not at any cost.
Bring out your dream team in the new European Championship 11 2022!
How important Stena Blacksteins In eleven matches against the Netherlands?
The issue has been widely discussed since the players set foot on English soil on Sunday. While the rest of the team — with the exception of Linda Cimbrandt — rode together on the slick lawn, Blacksteinius ran alone on the sidelines.
When Arsenal visited Kingsmeadow for the derby against Chelsea on a cold, frigid Friday night in February, one was struck by the incredible prestige the striker had earned. Stina Blackstenius isn’t remarkably high on the various ranking lists (yet) but every now and then, during this technically and tactically adept event, it becomes clear that a proper recognition is on the way.
At the same time that Sweden ran around Carden Park and performed pass drills on the well-cut carpet, reporters stood along the sidelines and chatted between Blackstenius opposite Lina Hurtig. Everyone knows that the first group match is the most difficult, and Portugal and Switzerland should not be able to compete in terms of quality.
Admittedly, Hurtig is not a straight-up alternative, especially a minor threat at depth, but the option given if said teammate doesn’t start against Holland. My colleague Petra Toren has already summarized what such a shift might mean for the Swedish game.
Misleading tone of voice
When Blackstenius was unexpectedly sent into the corresponding microphones three days before the European Championship premiere, she initially sounded optimistic. However, a misleading tone in the 26-year-old’s voice suggested it might be more about improving before matches after the group stage rather than the first or second meeting.
I willingly took Alexia Putillas as an example. The best players in the world pulled the cruciate ligament a few days ago, which led to sharp criticism from the Barcelona team against the Spanish medical team.
It is not difficult to understand why Placstinius dared to leave his fate in the hands of Swedish physiologists. One of Sweden’s absolute strengths is its ability to maximize achievement thanks to a broad team of experience, a luxury that many other countries do not have.
When the experts talk, just do it next. Whether that means individual running away from the field, protected from the rest of the team.
For golden opportunities
The attacker also said she had turned to Magdalena Erickson to vent her frustration. With the Tokyo Olympics in a new memory, the latter can relate to the situation better than others.
Then, last summer, Ericsson did not have time to prepare for the first match due to a back injury. Although she later explained how difficult it was to recharge mentally and physically—and may have affected her efforts overall—she was able to salvage the championship herself.
That’s why the current question should be: How important is Stina Blackstenius’ availability for the rest of the tournament?
Answer: It is very, very important.
Simply aching thighs may rule these coming days. At the slightest protest, Peter Gerhardsson must count on Hurtig at the premiere – for Sweden’s golden chances.
