The competition for the centre-back position has often been fierce in the Swedish national football team in recent years.
Ahead of this evening's World Cup qualifying match against Italy in Reggio Calabria, the situation is different.
Veterans like Linda Sembrant (160 A-internationals) and Magdalena Eriksson (123) have retired, while Nathalie Björn (82) and Amanda Ilestedt (79) are injured.
So what's left to play with?
Total of three international matches
As for more experienced central defenders, the answer is: Elma Junttila Nelhage (3 caps), Bella Andersson (0) and Sofia Reidy (0).
It is clear that there are important players who are not available, says team captain and midfield veteran Kosovare Asllani (207), but she quickly adds:
You can't go around here being worried. I trust them completely. I was thinking about it in training the other day that we have a lot of players away in the back line who have retired or are injured. And that it's amazing that we still get defenders like this, tall and stately. It's absolutely crazy.
She doesn't feel any anxiety about the evening.
It will be a loss for us. But it has looked good in training and it always happens that if one disappears, another has to take the chance. It is natural in football, she says.
Fellow midfielder Filippa Angeldahl chooses the same perspective. Sure, the national team lacks several skilled defenders and leaders. At the same time, it opens up the opportunity for others to step forward.
It will be a loss for us. But it has looked good in training and it always happens that if one disappears, another has to take the chance. It is natural in football, she says.
Sweden's national team coach Tony Gustavsson admits that he could have brought in another centre-back with more experience, but at the same time believes that he has sufficient options in his squad.
This evening's match will determine whether he did the right thing.
Yes, I think it will be a topic of conversation, especially if we lose. But we think there are very interesting central defender solutions in the squad we have, not just pure central defenders but also defensive midfielders and full-backs who we assess can play central defenders.
Italy–Sweden kicks off at 6:15 p.m.
