She describes herself as a "pretty fast" centre-back with a "pretty good left foot", one who likes to have the ball and tries to work a lot with the physical game.
As a former captain of the U23 national team, Elma Junttila Nelhage also knows how to lead a backline. And on Tuesday evening, she got to feel for the first time what it's like to play in the A national team – also on home ground in Gothenburg.
It was extra special to get to do this in Gothenburg, in front of family and friends. To get to represent Sweden is something you've dreamed of. These are the matches you want to play, says the former Häcken player.
Praised by Gustavsson
It was a fine debut for the 22-year-old who left Damallsvenskan for the major club Lyon in the winter. Even though it ended with a loss, 0–1 against the reigning World Champion Spain, Junttila Nelhage showed that she can handle even the world's most skilled offensive players.
Sweden's national team coach Tony Gustavsson pours praise over the debutant, who formed a centre-back pair with Chelsea's Nathalie Björn.
What probably warms the most and makes me the happiest is probably Elma's debut in the central defence, says Gustavsson.
Thanks a lot to Björn's leadership where she gives her the security on the pitch together with (goalkeeper) Jennifer Falk. But also thanks to Elma's incredibly hard work in Lyon where she has developed and matured. She has never been close to a match like this against a world nation, in this way on home ground in front of a home crowd with maybe that pressure and nervousness.
"Tough in the beginning"
To break into Lyon is not easy. But Elma Junttila Nelhage gets more and more trust from the eight-time Champions League winner.
During the autumn, she has played 90 minutes in several matches, both in the league and in the Champions League.
– In the beginning, it was a bit tough, it was a big change and the first time I moved away from home. But I have grown into it more and more and after the summer, we got a new coach and now I have got more trust and I feel that I'm growing all the time, says Junttila Nelhage.
It means a lot. Every day I get to train against very good players. It pushes me to get better all the time.
