You have to go back to July 24, 2021, a group stage match in the Olympic Games against Australia, to find the last time a fully fit Stina Blackstenius didn't start for Sweden in a national team match of significance.
The central attacking position has in principle been reserved for the Arsenal attacker. This is partly because national team captain Peter Gerhardsson rates Blackstenius so highly, partly due to a lack of competition.
But that's starting to change.
It's fun to play football right now, says Ellen Wangerheim.
Scoring goals
Hammarby's 20-year-old attacking talent has had a phenomenal start to the season. In the Swedish Cup, she scored seven goals in three group stage matches. When the Damallsvenskan started, she continued on that path and now tops the scoring league with six goals after three rounds.
What has triggered this?
Mostly, I get to play in the position I thrive in, and then a lot comes automatically. I know what I want to do and how I want to play.
The position in question is the central attacking role that Stina Blackstenius has pre-empted in the national team. Blackstenius' goal form has, however, been faltering, recently scoring her first goal in Arsenal in over two months, and in the national team, she hasn't scored in four consecutive matches.
Can a 20-year-old from Nacka challenge for a starting spot in the national team already now? By the summer's European Championship in Switzerland – Sweden's premiere match is against Denmark on July 4 – she wants to, at any rate.
National team debut against Italy
The A-national team debut in the Nations League match against Italy in early April (Wangerheim was substituted in the 73rd minute) gave a taste for more.
I said already last year that I wanted to be part of the European Championship. But it's clear, when I was part of it now and when I've had a good start to the season, you think about it even more. It feels more real, says Wangerheim.
How have these weeks been?
Fantastic. I'm playing with confidence right now. It's starting to get a bit of pressure, that you have to start performing and having this high level every match, but I like having that pressure on me. I thrive with it.
One who has noticed Wangerheim's progress is Stina Blackstenius. After the Italy match, she praised her younger national team colleague, and stated:
I think we'll see a lot of her in the national team going forward.
Born: September 1, 2004 (20 years old).
Position: forward.
Youth club: Saltsjö-Boo IF.
A-international matches/goals: 1/0.
Achievements: SM gold 2023.
Other: Tops the scoring league in Damallsvenskan with six goals after three rounds. Last year, she finished fourth in the scoring league with a total of 13 goals in 25 matches.
