It is not so strange that Fridolina Rolfö goes into the double match in the Nations League semifinal against Spain with a well-deserved desire for revenge. There is a bit to take, namely.
Yes, it was a chaotic summer. That's how I would summarize it, says the 31-year-old ahead of Friday's clash at La Rosaleda Stadium in Málaga.
The summer months were at least turbulent for one of the Swedish football national team's biggest stars.
Believed in continuation
First, she fought against the clock to be able to play the European Championship in Switzerland at all. Once on site, the news came that she would leave the Spanish top club Barcelona despite having a year left on the contract.
It didn't turn out as I had expected. A lot happened in the club during that period and it became quite drastic there during the summer. It was very sad to leave after four fine years, says Rolfö.
It became a move to England and Manchester United, a good solution in the end, she says. But still, when the European Championship started, she was set for a continuation in Barcelona.
I feel that I don't want to go into that right now. But a lot happened. Going into the European Championship, the plan was that I would continue to play. Everyone has probably read and seen what's happening in the club, with economic problems and so on. There's a lot that you can't control.
The start of the European Championship was anything but optimal.
It was probably the toughest, having to handle all that and at the same time find a new club during the European Championship.
"Felt like our summer"
Yet, Sweden was one of the teams that impressed the most in the beginning of the tournament. But despite a 2-0 lead late in the match, it ended in the quarterfinals against England, who won on penalties and later also took home the entire European Championship.
It felt like it was our summer. We did well and we played well, says Rolfö and continues regarding the bitter quarterfinal loss:
There were many teammates who I met afterwards who said "we thought you would win over England, you looked strong". And it felt that way too, it felt like we would win and advance, that "maybe this is our championship". So that elimination was incredibly tough.
The effort in general means that the self-confidence is good ahead of what will be new national team coach Tony Gustavsson's first national team matches, where the double match against world number one Spain is decided with a return match in Gothenburg next Tuesday.
With a win, Germany or France awaits in the final at the turn of the month November-December.
We have a belief in this team and know that we can compete with the absolute best teams in Europe.
