Gerhardsson Explains Penalty Decisions in Euro Quarterfinal Loss

Why were some substitutions made and why did some players take penalties? Four days after the European Championship quarterfinal against England, the outgoing national team manager Peter Gerhardsson comments on the players who chose to opt out of the penalty shootout. Sometimes you have to consider the human aspect and that's what we've done, he says.

» Published: July 21 2025

After Thursday's exit in the European Championship in Switzerland, Peter Gerhardsson summarized both the tournament and his time as national team captain during a press conference in Solna, including the quarter-final loss to England where several of the decisions have been criticized and debated.

I have to stand for the decisions I make, he says to TT and continues:

You never get an answer to what would have happened if you had done something different. It just becomes pathetic if I myself would stand and say "I regret this or that". Why did I do it then? Then I probably shouldn't be doing this.

Players who felt unwell

The penalty shootout has also become debated where experienced Lina Hurtig was one of the players who did not shoot a penalty. She has herself spoken openly about the psychological challenges that followed the penalty shootout against the USA in the World Championship 2023 when she considered quitting.

There were players who were not comfortable with taking penalties, Hurtig was mentioned earlier where you talked about the underlying history - can you put into words the reasons for this?

There are girls who have been out and talked about how they have felt during periods, you have no idea what it's due to. It's something you maybe should take into consideration, it's not just football players, it's people.

He clarifies:

Sometimes you have to take into consideration people and we have done that. Some you put at the end to spare them, but they can end up there anyway and then it's maybe an even worse situation.

Gerhardsson also emphasizes that Smilla Holmberg, the 18-year-old who got to shoot the decisive penalty, was planned from the start to shoot a penalty after having impressed in training.

”Fantastic journey”

Gerhardsson classifies the loss to England as "the absolutely toughest" during his years as national team captain, at the same time he says that the tournament was "the best championship in terms of play" he has been a part of.