Rolfö got her first European Championship minutes in Switzerland through a shorter substitution when the women's football team defeated Poland 3–0 on Tuesday. And – pepper, pepper, take it easy – it felt great in her left foot, which she injured in a Nations League match against Denmark at the beginning of June.
It felt good during the match. It's an injury that you've been pushing, so of course it hurts. But it still felt good, says Rolfö.
The way back has been tougher than she previously told about. It was not a given that the 31-year-old star striker would be able to follow to Switzerland at all. But by exchanging the planned vacation for tedious rehabilitation training, she gave herself the opportunity for European Championship play.
One has worked so damn hard. It was a nightmare to get injured. I haven't had a vacation, I've been doing rehab and training six hours a day just to get better in this foot. Every day I've been lying at home with my foot elevated and just doing everything to get the swelling down and get the foot to heal as quickly as possible, says Rolfö.
”Have a damn drive”
With that background, it's maybe time to give oneself a pat on the back.
When you think back, you realize that okay, I probably have a damn drive that has made me come back so quickly. Because it wasn't expected. So I'm incredibly proud of these weeks.
Positive is also that the injury is easier to handle than the one that plagued her during the World Championship 2023. A bruised knee bothered her throughout the championship, but still Rolfö became a key player on the way to a Swedish bronze.
In the World Championship, it was a very special situation. It was things in my knee that were broken that I played with and I knew that I would be operated on after the championship. Now it's a pretty badly sprained foot, it's the ligaments that you want to feel good. It's worse with things that are broken.
Group final on Saturday
Sweden's European Championship continues with a group final against Germany in Zurich on Saturday. A draw is enough for a Swedish group win.
Fridolina Rolfö hopes for more minutes than last time. She wants to get into the heat to help Sweden to a new championship medal.
It's obviously not an optimal preparation. I've been sitting and wiggling my foot for a few weeks. But I just want to get into it, get good training and hopefully more and more playing time.
