Forsberg's last international appearance was a Nations League appearance against Azerbaijan almost a year ago. After that, he was never again selected for the national team by Jon Dahl Tomasson.
But Tomasson barely had time to be fired before Emil Forsberg was welcomed back. However, it took an injury to Malmö FF's Taha Ali for the 34-year-old Forsberg to be called up as a reserve by new national team captain Graham Potter.
"I can't say it's been frustrating," Forsberg says of the absence from the national team when he meets with the media on site in Marbella ahead of the World Cup qualifiers against Switzerland and Slovenia.
But it's about feeling like you have something to give and contribute to this national team. And I feel like I do.
Support for young players
The veteran midfielder – 90 international appearances and 21 goals over the years – lives his life in the New York Red Bulls, where he accounted for eleven goals and nine assists in 33 games in the North American league this season.
Routine weighed heavily when Graham Potter chose to bring Forsberg.
"That's one of the reasons we chose him. Ultimately, the experience of how these games will be and what they will feel like, especially in March, is very important. Having him in the group and helping the group is important. There are a lot of young players, with different experiences," Potter said.
Forsberg is happy to take on the role of reliable national team support.
We have fantastic players here. Everyone is at the top or starting to climb up, and then it is important to have support both on and off the pitch. When I was young and came into the national team, there were players like Zlatan (Ibrahimovic), Kim (Källström), (Andreas) Isaksson, (Mikael) Lustig and (Andreas) Granqvist, and that is important, says Emil Forsberg.
Decided the World Cup round of 16
He made his senior national team debut in January 2014, when Erik Hamrén was the national team captain. Graham Potter will be his fourth national team coach, having also played under Janne Andersson from 2016–2023.
34-year-old Forsberg has participated in three major championships – Euro 2016, World Cup 2018 and Euro 2021 – and, among other things, decided the World Cup round of 16 against Switzerland in 2018. Switzerland will also be the opposition on Saturday, when the national team qualifies for the World Cup in Geneva, but Emil Forsberg is not taking anything for granted when it comes to playing time.
We'll see. I'll give everything I can to make this national team a national team again. That's the important thing. I know I can contribute in every way possible.
