Sweden were completely dominant against Lithuania, as many had expected.
And Felicia Schröder got off the mark for the national team, as many had hoped.
The 19-year-old has scored goals for Häcken and in her opening game for Real Madrid, where she joined in a record transfer earlier this year.
However, she had yet to score for the national team after 11 international appearances. That changed in her 12th match.
And how.
“Just go for it”
She made it 1–0 from the penalty spot in the 24th minute after Anna Anvegård was brought down by Loreta Rogaciova.
“It feels incredibly good to score now. It was really nice to take the penalty too,” Schröder told SVT after the match.
In the 58th minute, Schröder made it 2–0 with a long-range effort after Lithuanian goalkeeper Meda Seskute failed to hold the ball.
Just five minutes later, Schröder completed her hat trick, making it 3–0 from close range after a pass from Matilda Vinberg.
“It’s a bit frustrating when the goals don’t come, but it was nice to score today,” Schröder said.
She says she is at her best when she “isn’t thinking too much.”
“Just go for it. It feels really good to score two more goals.”
“The players make Felicia better”
Attacking star Stina Blackstenius started on the bench but came on and made it 4–0 in the 75th minute after a fine pass from substitute Monica Jusu Bah.
With less than 10 minutes left, Amanda Ilestedt headed in to make it 5–0 from Filippa Angeldahl’s cross.
“We could have scored more goals, but it’s really nice that we won,” Felicia Schröder said.
National team coach Tony Gustavsson told SVT that he and the team were confident Schröder would eventually start scoring for the national team too.
“What we’re perhaps happiest about is how the players helped Felicia today. We’re starting to find the right roles around her, and she gets to play freely and be herself,” Gustavsson said.
The second leg is in Solna on Tuesday. After the big win, Sweden have one foot in the next playoff round, where the winner of the tie between Scotland and the Czech Republic awaits. A World Cup place is at stake.
With Felicia Schröder in scoring form for the national team too, the women’s team have every chance of avoiding missing the World Cup for the first time.
The second leg between Sweden and Lithuania is in Solna on Tuesday. The winner of the tie will face the Czech Republic or Scotland in a decisive playoff in November or December for a place at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
