Asllani Cautions Against Expecting Big Win in Euro Championship Opener

On the one hand, Sweden's football women have only won eight out of 23 premieres over the years, counting all championships that started with group play.

On the other hand, three of the victories have come since Peter Gerhardsson took over as national team captain in 2017.

The recipe is Peter, it seems, jokes team captain Kosovare Asllani at the press conference the day before the European Championship premiere against Denmark.

Run-over recently

But she also means it. That Sweden has started the four championships under Gerhardsson with three wins and one draw is not a coincidence, she says.

We have developed enormously. After Peter took over, we have become a more playing national team, we dare to play a more fun and intense football.

It was seen when Sweden ran over Denmark with 6–1 in the Nations League in early June. A demonstration of strength that gives both confidence and a mental advantage over the Danes.

But wait for no new run-over, says Asllani.

The 35-year-old midfielder, who reaches 200 A-international matches in the premiere, believes it will be a completely different game picture, a completely different Denmark, at Stade de Genève.

Denmark is an incredibly strong national team and it's always very tough matches. It was a one-time phenomenon to win 6–1 and it's not something we expect tomorrow.

Want to see improvement

One should not underestimate the impact of premiere nerves either. Especially considering how important the match can be. Even world third Germany is included in the group and only two teams advance to the quarterfinals.

A premiere match is always a premiere match. There can be a lot of nervousness. You always want to win a premiere because a lot can be controlled by it, says midfielder Filippa Angeldahl.

We know it's extremely important to take points in the first match because it can be crucial later in the group. And you talk about premiere nerves ... I just can't exactly put my finger on what makes it like that, says center back Nathalie Björn.

And despite their fine premiere record, Peter Gerhardsson hopes for an improvement compared to previous championships. Except for the 3–0 win over the USA in the Olympic Games 2021, the national team captain thinks that Sweden has had it tough in the premieres.

The first matches are always a bit special and I think we've gotten better when we've gotten into the tournaments a bit. So I hope we can be a little better in the premiere than we have been before, says Gerhardsson.

This is how it has gone in all championship premieres for the Swedish women's national football team.

Record: 8 wins, 6 draws, 9 losses.

The list lacks the European Championship tournaments 1984, 1987, 1989, and 1995 when no group play was played in those championships.

World Championship 2024: South Africa 2–1

European Championship 2022: Netherlands 1–1

Olympic Games 2021: USA 3–0

World Championship 2019: Chile 2–0

European Championship 2017: Germany 0–0

Olympic Games 2016: South Africa 1–0

World Championship 2015: Nigeria 3–3

European Championship 2013: Denmark 1–1

Olympic Games 2012: South Africa 4–1