Sweden
Friday 18 January 2008
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Sweden (©Bildbyrån)
Sweden won the inaugural European Competition for Women's Football in 1984 and in the last decade have again emerged as one of the game's main forces.
Following their 1984 triumph, in which they overcame England on penalties in Luton after a 1-1 aggregate draw, Sweden reached the next final in 1987, only to lose to hosts Norway. Over the next few years they found themselves eclipsed by Norway and Denmark, as well as by Germany, who have since become just as fierce rivals as their Nordic neighbours.
Fortunes improved after finishing third at the first FIFA Women's World Cup in 1991, with the appointment of Bengt Simonsson as coach in 1992 and the promotion of his assistant Marika Domanski-Lyfors four years later aiding progression. In 1995, Sweden reached the UEFA European Women's Championship final, losing 3-2 to Germany in Kaiserslautern, and they enjoyed another run to the same stage in 2001, only to lose to a German golden goal in Ulm.
They have since maintained those performance levels, reaching the 2003 World Cup final, where another Germany golden goal spelt defeat, before the same nation then pipped them to the 2004 Olympic bronze. Sweden lost to Norway after extra time in their UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2005™ semi-final and exited the 2007 World Cup early, but a 2008 Olympic quarter-final and eight wins and 31 unanswered goals in 2009 qualifying suggest better times lie ahead for a team bolstered by one of Europe's strongest domestic leagues.
Key players
Hanna Ljungberg's international retirement at the end of 2008 after years of injury problems deprived Sweden of a talismanic attacking presence while stalwart defender Frida Östberg also bowed out but going forward Victoria Svensson provides just as much skill and experience and Lotta Schelin is one of Europe's most promising emerging talents. Therese Sjögran has more than 100 caps in midfield.
Tournament record
2005: semi-finals
2001: runners-up
1997: semi-finals
1995: runners-up
1993: quarter-finals
1991: quarter-finals
1989: third place
1987: runners-up
1984: winners
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