Rebecka Blomqvist had longed for this day since the World Championship bronze in August last year. Finally, a national team match again after a tough year outside the pitch.
A severe knee injury, a torn cruciate ligament, in a cup match with Wolfsburg in September last year kept her away from football for nearly a year.
But for the double match against Luxembourg, she was finally back in the national team.
I've longed very much. It's been a long time considering that the World Championship was the last, she says.
This is something I've looked forward to throughout the rehabilitation.
She didn't get any playing time on the away pitch on Friday, but at Gamla Ullevi, Rebecka Blomqvist was substituted in after nearly 60 minutes of play.
Three minutes later, she had scored again.
The first one was special, she says about the 7-0 goal.
It came very early too (after the substitution) and it's always nice.
In addition, she also scored 8-0 at the end of the match.
I was probably a bit calmer then, but it was still a very nice feeling, says Blomqvist.
"Love it"
After the rout against Luxembourg, Sweden is clear for the playoff against Serbia in a month – and one step closer to the European Championship finals in Switzerland next year.
Rebecka Blomqvist can barely contain herself.
It's clear that I've wanted to see it as a goal ahead of me and tried and thought that I want to get back, she says.
I may have pushed away the feelings of being here. Because I love being here and now I just want to be here even more.
Happy national team captain
One of those who was extra happy for Rebecka Blomqvist was national team captain Peter Gerhardsson.
It's naturally very fun after the long absence from the national team, to get to come in and score a goal. It's naturally very important, he says.
You can be happy about a lot. But especially maybe about that part. Along with Hanna Wijk making her first national team match at the same time as Jonna Andersson made her 100th.
