A completely crucial match against England – then six Swedish stars risk being suspended.
In the European Championship qualifiers, just two warnings lead to a player missing the next match.
We can't afford to rest any players, if we do, we'll get a big setback, says goalkeeper Zecira Musovic ahead of the meeting with France.
When Sweden meets France away in Dijon on Friday in the second-to-last qualifying match for the European Championship in Switzerland 2025, six blue-yellow players stand on a warning in the group stage.
If one of these players receives another yellow card, they will face suspension against England at Gamla Ullevi on Tuesday next week. Due to the table situation and the fact that head-to-head matches decide in case of equal points, the England match in Gothenburg will be completely crucial for Sweden in the fight for a direct spot in the European Championship.
I thought I had experienced everything, but new things keep popping up, says national team coach Peter Gerhardsson about the strange fact that just two warnings lead to suspension.
"Nothing positive"
Gerhardsson admits that the situation gives headaches ahead of the team selection for the France match.
I can say that I'm thinking. I'll put it off a bit and then we'll see. It's not something that affects the first training sessions, but then I'll have to make a decision on how we'll do it. It's not something positive. Players also need to play to be in shape for England.
The offensive players Kosovare Asllani and Rosa Kafaji are two of the players who have a yellow card from before.
More worrying is that the other four warned players are the regular backline in the European Championship qualifiers – Jonna Andersson, Magdalena Eriksson, Linda Sembrant, and Hanna Lundkvist. The three first-named have started all four matches – Lundkvist has started three matches and came on away against Ireland when Nathalie Björn got injured.
As a player, you just have to keep playing, that part you shouldn't compromise on. Play your own game, but avoid stupid warnings and unnecessary yellow cards, says goalkeeper Zecira Musovic.
Risking a big setback
If there is competition for a starting spot on a position, this can play a role in the selection of the starting eleven against France, says Gerhardsson.
If there's a player who looks very fresh and who could do at least as good a job, it might be that we choose a player who doesn't have a warning. But I don't know. I sleep and then I wake up in the morning and get closer to a decision.
Zecira Musovic:
I don't know what I would have done as a coach. We want to win against France and have to put up the best team. We can't afford to rest any players, if we do, we'll get a big setback. I would have put up the best possible team.
The top two teams go directly to the European Championship in Switzerland 2025. The third and fourth teams are forced to play playoffs in the fall. To reach the European Championship via playoffs, two double wins are required.
The standings in Sweden's group after four out of six rounds:
- France, 9 points (+2 in goal difference), 2) Sweden, 7 points (+3), 3) England, 7 points (+2), 4) Ireland, 0 points (–7).
Remaining matches:
July 12: France–Sweden (9:20 pm, Dijon), England–Ireland (9:00 pm).
July 16: Sweden–England (7:00 pm, Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg), Ireland–France (7:00 pm).
If two or more teams end up with the same number of points, head-to-head matches decide. Sweden played 1–1 away against England and lost 0–1 at home against France.
If the number of points in head-to-head matches cannot separate the teams, the following criteria are used in order: a) goal difference, b) most goals scored in head-to-head matches, c) goal difference in the entire group stage, d) most goals scored in the group stage, e) most away goals scored in the group stage, f) most wins in the group stage, g) most away wins in the group stage, h) lowest number of disciplinary points (warnings/red cards), i) ranking on Uefa's Nations League ranking.
Source: Uefa
If a player receives a total of two warnings in the European Championship qualifiers, they will be suspended for the next match. The following players in the top three teams France, Sweden, and England in group A3 stand on a warning ahead of the second-to-last round:
Sweden: Magdalena Eriksson, Linda Sembrant, Hanna Lundkvist, Jonna Andersson, Kosovare Asllani, and Rosa Kafaji.
England: Jessica Carter, Ella Toone, Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson, and Chloe Kelly.
France: Amandine Henry, Maëlle Lakrar, and Kenza Dali. Selma Bacha stands on two warnings and is suspended against Sweden on Friday.
