Sweden’s journey towards the World Cup has begun and one of the things Peter Gerhardsson is thinking along the way is how he will bring Lena Hurtig.
In Gotland, he may have found the answer, by turning to Fridolina Rulfo.
– In order to bring in good players, sometimes you need to change and try to find roles that suit you, says the captain of the national team
It’s been a few weeks since the awful loss in the UEFA Cup semi-finals when the Sweden women’s national team has now come together again and their goal is clear. Toilet in Australia and New Zealand next summer.
Despite the fact that the World Cup qualifier final against Finland is meaningless because Sweden has already qualified and Finland cannot make it to the play-off, only the blue and yellow win counts.
We are a national team that has won a lot. We are not used to losing as in England here last time. We would like to go back and win because I think it’s important to everything and everyone.
I’m going to test the players
The truth is that Sweden no longer has competitive international players ahead of the World Cup. This fall can Peter Gerhardson So it is used to test new players and provide details towards the tournament.
But don’t expect any revolutionary changes when you leave Sweden against Finland in Tampere.
– If you are going to eleven brand new beginnings and work that way, it may be a single part, but if you want to see the levels, you may need a good environment. Sometimes that could mean that two out of three players who didn’t play much in an environment that played a lot would be a better test, he says and continues:
– During the European Commission, we had many good players, I think, who did not get time to play. I think one or a number of them could work with them.
He can move Rolvo
One of the players that Gerhardsson himself picked after EC is Lena Hurtig, who had trouble getting into the starting lineup in a good way.
While training in Visby, the national team captain opted to test a 3-4-3 formation where Fridolina Rulfo had to play as a left-back, as she does at Barcelona, and Lena Hurtig on the left in the offensive third.
We have several players who may sometimes perform very well in their club environment in the same position and when you come to the national team later, it can happen that you are competing with the best, he says and continues:
– In order to bring in good players, sometimes you need to change and try to find the roles that suit you.
Siger alternative
However, some changes are inevitable. On the goalkeeper’s side, Hedvig Lindahl is missing and is between Jennifer Falk, Zisera Mosovic and Emma Holmgren.
Then there is the central midline. There, captain Caroline Seeger, who was forced to undergo surgery, left a big hole to fill and this time it wouldn’t be Natalie Bjorn’s job.
– What we chose for this group is that Nathalie Björn will be competing in the backline and that opens up to Rubensson, Curmark and Angeldahl in such a position. They walked around a bit and rehearsed in this position.
Philippa Engeldahl, who already had a role in Gerhardsson’s starting eleven, sees advantages perhaps in playing one of his former Hacken teammates.
– Of course it’s great to know them and know how they play. We know we have a good relationship with each other on the pitch. It just makes it easier. She says it’s easier for me and easier for the team to work the relationships.