Sweden Team Page
Squad
Coach: Thomas Dennerby
Roster
Goalkeepers: Sofia Lundgren (AIK), Kristin Hammarström (Kif Örebro), Hedvig Lindahl
Defenders: Sara Thunebro, Stina Segerström, Sara Larsson, Charlotte Rohlin, Frida Östberg, Hanna Marklund, Anna Paulsson, Karolina Westberg
Midfielders: Victoria Svensson, Linda Forsberg, Caroline Seger, Nilla Fischer, Therese Sjögran, Therese Lundin
Forwards: Lotta Schelin, Sara Johansson, Madelaine Edlund, Hanna Ljungberg
Scouting Report
Current world ranking: 3rd (second in UEFA)
Strengths: Experience is on Sweden’s side going into China with nine players returning from its 2003 World Cup team, including five with over 100 caps. Sweden scored 32 goals in World Cup qualifying (one less than Germany) and it’s no wonder. The team boasts two of the best strikers in the world in Hanna Ljungberg and Victoria Svensson as well as one on the rise, Lotta Schelin. Svensson is excellent off the dribble, Ljungberg is an expert goal poacher, while Schelin can beat anyone down the wings. Not only that, but the entire roster plays on professional teams domestically in Sweden. Thomas Dennerby took over head coaching duties from Marika Domanski-Lyfors — now coach of China — in 2005 and has continued the winning tradition for the yellow and blue. The stylish Swedes have shown they can stand up to the increasingly physical nature of the women’s game and never get knocked off their game plan. Every player on the pitch is involved in the attack, with the finishing left up to the aforementioned forwards. A patient, veteran backline can give Dennerby some comfort with his murky goalkeeping situation.
Weaknesses: Injuries have been a repetitive problem for the Swedes since their runner-up performance in 2003. Ljungberg, in particular, had been sidelined for months leading up to the World Cup with hamstring and calf injuries. Major injuries to promising midfielder Josephine Oqvist, winger Frida Nordin and starting goalkeeper Caroline Jonsson have hurt the depth of the squad. Backup keeper Hedvig Lindahl was dodgy in a 2-1 exhibition loss to Denmark Aug. 30, leaving the gate open for Sofia Lundgren to take the No. 1 spot. Three round-robin games in eight days will test the durability of Dennerby’s side.
Player to watch: Ljungberg. The 28-year-old striker, a perennial nominee for FIFA women’s player of the year, is aiming to put injury woes behind her and reach her peak in China. She always puts the pain aside to play for her country. If she’s nursing any injury, it didn’t show in Sweden’s 2-1 victory over Denmark in the final exhibition game for both teams. Ljungberg came off the bench to score two goals and give Sweden the win. Once invited to play with Perugia in Serie A (Italy’s men’s league), Ljungberg was featured on stamps in Sweden after the 2003 World Cup. Expect multiple goals from her at the World Cup as she uses her speed and smarts to get behind opposing defences.
Prognosis: Sweden is a talented, deep squad, but it will have its hands full in this group. World Cup preparation should give them an advantage over North Korea and Nigeria. Goalkeeping is an issue without Jonsson, their starting goalkeeper for most of the last seven years, which could play a part in Sweden advancing, considering the quality of this group.
ROAD TO THE WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
2007 qualification route: Sweden secured its berth for China 2007 by placing first in Group 2 of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2007 qualification (UEFA).
Qualification record: 8 matches played, 7 wins, 1 draw, 0 losses
Goals for: 32 Goals against: 6
Top goal scorer in qualifying: Hanna Ljungberg (10)
Qualifying results:
Round robin (Group 2) – in Europe
Aug. 28, 2005 – Sweden 2, Iceland 2
Sept. 24, 2005 – Sweden 6, Belarus 0
Nov. 1, 2005 – Portugal 1, Sweden 4
April 22, 2006 – Czech Republic 2, Sweden 3 in Kladno, CZE
May 7, 2006 – Sweden 5, Portugal 1 in Trelleborg, Sweden
June 18, 2006 – Belarus 0, Sweden 6 in Kuntsaushchyna, Belarus
Aug. 26, 2006 – Iceland 0, Sweden 4 in Reykjavik, Iceland
Sept. 24, 2006 – Sweden 2, Czech Republic 0 in Växjö, Sweden
Women’s World Cup 1st round matches (all times local)
Sept. 11 – Nigeria vs. Sweden in Chengdu (Chengdu Sports Centre Stadium) at 20:00
Sept. 14 – Sweden vs. U.S. in Chengdu (Chengdu Sports Centre Stadium) at 17:00
Sept. 18 – North Korea vs. Sweden in Tianjin (Tianjin Olympic Centre Stadium) at 20:00
WOMEN’S WORLD CUP HISTORY
Sweden has been a women’s powerhouse since the inaugural World Cup in 1991. The Swedes have finished third and second, but the top trophy has eluded them so far. Is a championship in store for them in their fifth attempt? For the second straight World Cup, Sweden is slotted in the same group as the U.S., North Korea and Nigeria.
Number of previous Women’s World Cup appearances: 4
Hosted the Women’s World Cup: 1995
1991 – Third
1995 – Quarter-finals
1999 – Quarter-finals
2003 – Runner-up
