After an initial cross away against world number two England, the next big match for the women’s national team now awaits when world number three France comes to visit. Kick-off takes place at 19.00 at the national arena Gamla Ullevi in Gothenburg. The match is broadcast on TV12 and TV4 Play.
Five scouts before the match
The European Championship qualifiers have started
The qualifiers for the European Championship 2025 in Switzerland are now underway. Last Friday, the teams in the group played their first matches in the qualifiers. Sweden drew 1-1 away to England at Wembley in London. Meanwhile in Metz, France took a three-pointer at home to Ireland after an odd-goal 1-0 win. Thus, France tops the group with three points, Sweden and England stand on one point each, while Ireland has zero recorded points.
Merited national team captain on France’s bench
Last year, Herve Renard made history. In part, he became the first national team captain to lead a national team in two World Cups in the space of one year when he first led Saudi Arabia in the men’s World Cup 2022 and then took over the job as France’s national team captain in March 2023 and took the team to the quarter-finals of the women’s World Cup in the summer of 2023. In doing so, he also became only the second national team captain to lead a national team in a World Cup on both the women’s and men’s side after John Herdman who has been the national team captain for Canada in both the women’s and men’s World Cup. Renard also became the first national team captain to win a WC match on both the women’s and men’s side. In addition to this, Renard has also won the African Championships on the men’s side on two occasions, with Zambia in 2012 and with Ivory Coast in 2015. He has also been named Africa’s best coach on three occasions.
Fridolina Rolfö back with news
For the first time since the bronze match in the WC 2023, Fridolina Rolfö pulled on the blue-yellow jersey and played an international match on Friday. The Barca player started the match and also became the goalscorer in her comeback when she sent in the important tie to 1-1 and saved a Swedish point against England away at Wembley.
Pia Sundhage’s powerful numbers against France
With ten goals in eight international matches against France, Pia Sundhage is by far the women’s national team’s best scorer against today’s opposition. Shared second on that list is a trio of players on three goals: Anette Börjesson, Lena Videkull and Sara Söderlind. Then Malin Lovén and Lotta Schelin scored two goals each against France. They are the only players to have scored more than one goal against France for the women’s national team.
Great memories against France at Gamla Ullevi
As late as autumn 2022, the teams met at Gamla Ullevi. Then it was a lovely blue-yellow victory with a clear 3-0. Filippa Angeldal gave Sweden a dream start to the match when she scored 1-0 after just 24 seconds. In the second half, Amanda Ilestedt and Madelen Janogy then increased to 2-0 and 3-0.
The coach quote
– We need to make an almost one hundred percent effort against France. We need to play at the same level as we did against England, and some parts maybe even better to come from Gamla Ullevi with all three points – which is of course our clear objective for the evening, says national team captain Peter Gerhardsson.
Mutual meetings
Sweden: 12 wins | 42 goals scored | 25 goals conceded
Draws: 3 matches
France: 6 wins | 25 goals scored | 42 goals conceded
Sweden’s goalscorers against France
10 – Pia Sundhage
3 – Anette Börjesson, Lena Videkull, Sara Söderlind
2 – Malin Lovén, Lotta Schelin
1 – Görel Sintorn, Birgitta Söderström, Karin Ödlund, Doris Uusitalo, Gunnila Axén, Ingrid Hagby, Malin Stålklint, Susanne Fahlström, Kristin Jonsson, Tina Lovesan, Hanna Ljungberg, Josefine Öqvist, Victoria Sandell, Marie Hammarström, NillaFischer, Filippa Angeldahl, Amanda Ilestedt, Madeleine Janogy
That’s how it went last time
There are wonderful blue-yellow memories from the last time the countries met each other. Sweden closed the year 2022 with a clear 3-0 victory in a training international match at home at Gamla Ullevi. Already after 24 seconds, Filippa Angeldahl had scored 1-0 for Sweden. In the second half, Amanda Ilestedt headed in 2-0 and with ten minutes remaining, substitute Madelen Janogy shaved the final score to 3-0.
France in the European Championship qualifiers
France – Ireland 1-0
Sweden – France | April 9
England – France | 31 May
France – England | June 4
France – Sweden | July 12
Ireland – France | July 16
The scorers: Marie-Antoinette Katoto
Latest starting eleven (France – Ireland 1-0, European Championship qualification)
Pauline Peyraud-Magnin
Eve Perisset – Griedge Mbock Bathy – Maelle Lakrar – Sakina Karchaoui
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Marie-Antoinette Katoto – Delphine Cascarino
The opponent profile
Wendie Renard | 1990 | Center back | Lyon
Born on the island of Martinique in the Caribbean where she grew up and began her football career in the club Essor-Prechotain. When she was 15, she moved to France, the following year she signed for Lyon, who she has been faithful to ever since. Took a starting place in Lyon as a 17-year-old and has a slightly improbable 16 league titles in 17 attempts. Also has ten cup titles and has also won the Champions League on a total of eight occasions. Goal-dangerous centre-back who is extremely sharp on the head, so far there have been 37 goals in 156 international matches. That gives her fifth place among France’s leading scorers in the national team. Has been selected in this year’s team seven times and is considered by many to be one of the best centre-backs of all time.
The talent
Vicki Becho | 2003 | Forward | Lyon
Joined PSG’s academy as a 15-year-old, but did not reach the A team, instead moving in the 2020 season to Lyon where she still plays. Last season she secured her first titles with Lyon winning the double: the league and the cup. The forward also has a title with France when she won the F19 European Championships in 2019 as a very minor when she was only 15 years old. Despite her young age, she struck with three goals in the tournament and became the first 15-year-old to score in the tournament since 2011 when a certain Ada Hegerberg managed the feat. In 2022, she played in the U20 World Cup where France reached the quarter-finals. Last year she made her first championship at senior level and was the youngest in the French WC squad. Becho also debuted in the A national team during the World Cup itself with a cameo against Jamaica and then scored his first A national team goal against Panama. In total, there have been twelve international matches and one goal so far.
France squad
Goalkeepers: Pauline Peyraud-Magnin (Juventus), Constance Picaud (PSG), Solene Durand (Sassuolo)
Backing: Selma Bacha (Lyon), Eve Perisset (Chelsea), Wendie Renard (Lyon), Griedge Mbock Bathy (Lyon), Sakina Karchaoui (PSG), Estelle Cascarino (Juventus), Maelle Lakrar (Montpellier), Jade Le Guilly (PSG)
Midfielder: Amandine Henry (Angel City), Kenza Dali (Aston Villa), Grace Geyoro (PSG), Sandie Toletti (Real Madrid), Lea Le Garrec (Fleury)
Forwards: Eugenie Le Sommer (Lyon), Delphine Cascarino (Lyon), Kadidiatou Diani (Lyon), Marie-Antoinette Katoto (PSG), Sandy Baltimore (PSG), Vicki Becho (Lyon), Julie Dufour (Paris FC)
The national team captain: Hervé Renard
Facts France
Number of European Championships: 7 (by 2022) | Best result: Semi-final (2022)
Number of World Cups: 5 (by 2023) | Best result: Fourth place (2011)
Number of Olympics: 2 (latest 2016) | Best result: Fourth place (2012)
Merits: –
World ranking: 3
Highest ranking: 3 (December 2014-June 2017, June 2018, March-June 2022, December 2023)
Most international matches: Sandrine Soubeyrand, 198 international matches
Most national team goals: Eugenie Le Sommer, 93 goals
Sweden in the European Championship qualifiers
England – Sweden 1-1
Sweden – France | April 9
Ireland – Sweden | 31 May
Sweden – Ireland | June 4
France – Sweden | July 12
Sweden – England | July 16
The scorers: Fridolina Rolfö
Latest starting eleven (England – Sweden 1-1, European Championship qualification)
Jennifer Falk
Hanna Lundqvist – Linda Sembrant – Magdalena Eriksson – Jonna Andersson
Filippa Angeldahl – Kosovare Asllani (K) – Julia Zigiotti Olme
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd – Stina Blackstenius – Fridolina Rolfö
Sweden’s squad
Goalkeepers: Tove Enblom (Vålerenga IF), Jennifer Falk (BK Häcken), Zecira Musovic (Chelsea)
Backing: Jonna Andersson (Hammarby IF), Magdalena Eriksson (Bayern Munich), Emma Kullberg (Brighton), Stina Lennartsson (Hammarby IF), Hanna Lundkvist (San Diego Wave), Amanda Nildén (Tottenham), Josefine Rybrink (BK Häcken), Linda Sembrant (Bayern Munich)
Midfielders/Forwards: Filippa Angeldahl (Manchester City), Anna Anvegård (BK Häcken), Kosovare Asllani (AC Milan), Hanna Bennison (Everton), Stina Blackstenius (Arsenal), Sofia Jakobsson (San Diego Wave), Madelen Janogy (Fiorentina), Rosa Kafaji ( BK Häcken), Fridolina Rolfö (Barcelona), Elin Rubensson (Houston Dash), Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (Chelsea), Matilda Vinberg (Tottenham), Julia Zigiotti Olme (Brighton)
The national team captain: Peter Gerhardsson
Facts Sweden
Number of European Championships: 11 (by 2022) | Best result: European Championship gold (1984)
Number of World Cups: 9 (by 2023) | Best result: Silver (2003)
Number of Olympics: 7 (by 2021) | Best result: Silver (2016 & 2021)
Merit: EC gold 1984, EC silver 1987, 1995 & 2001, WC silver 2003, WC bronze 1991, 2011, 2019 & 2023, Olympic silver 2016 & 2021
World ranking: 6
Highest rank: 1 (August 2023)
Most international matches: Caroline Seger, 240 international matches
Most national team goals: Lotta Schelin, 88 goals