Magnus Wikman is not hiding his disappointment after the European Championship draw. The assistant national team captain would have liked to see the now-retired national team star Caroline Seger – 240 national team matches for Sweden – draw her old teammates into Group A with host nation Switzerland, Iceland, and Finland.
To be honest, yes, I had hoped so, he says with a laugh during a digital press conference in Swiss Lausanne.
Denmark – the key match
Instead, it was Norway that Seger drew into Group A. Sweden ended up in Group C with Germany, Denmark, and Poland.
It's a pretty exciting group, with teams with different playing styles, says Wikman.
He thinks it's a bit "boring" to meet Denmark in the European Championship premiere on July 4. The teams will meet in the spring's Nations League matches – away in February and at home in Sweden in early June. The Danish team has been coached by Swede Andrée Jeglertz since 2023.
It will be a key match since we've met them twice before. Germany and Denmark are now on par.
The Germans took Olympic bronze last summer and European Championship silver in 2022.
They have a high level that is as high as it has been before, but they have been searching for a bit to find the "old" Germany, says Wikman.
Germany was long a giant specter for Sweden. When Sweden won the World Championship quarterfinal in 2019, it was Sweden's first championship win against the Germans in 24 years.
The 2019 World Championship when we won was a bit of a milestone in itself. Since Peter (Gerhardsson) became national team captain, the matches have been even.
"Tough to meet"
Poland is a European Championship debutant, but has a world star in the form of Barcelona striker Ewa Pajor.
Poland is very fast and counter-attacking, and above all Ewa Pajor, who is always tough to meet, says Magnus Wikman.
The clearly toughest European Championship group became Group D with France, England, the Netherlands, and Wales. From that quartet, Sweden's quarterfinal opponent will come, if the Swedish team finishes first or second in their group.
All those teams are very good. We can only hope that we're in good form so that we can challenge the team we get and move on.
Sweden was forced to play double playoff matches against Luxembourg and Serbia to reach this summer's European Championship – this after finishing third in the European Championship qualifying group behind England and France.
Corrected version: In an earlier version, the wrong playing venue was stated in the fact box for Sweden's second match.
The Women's European Championship will take place in Switzerland from July 2 to 27 next year.
Sweden was drawn into Group C along with Germany, Denmark, and Poland.
Sweden's matches:
July 4: Denmark–Sweden, 6:00 PM in Geneva.
July 8: Poland–Sweden, 9:00 PM in Lucerne.
July 12: Sweden–Germany, 9:00 PM in Zurich.
The top two teams in each group will advance to the quarterfinals. If Sweden advances, they will face the winner or runner-up of Group D, which consists of France, England, the Netherlands, and Wales.
The other groups are: Group A: Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Finland. Group B: Spain, Italy, Belgium, Portugal.
The playing venues are: Basel, Bern, Geneva, Zurich, St. Gallen, Lucerne, Sion, and Thun.
The opening match between Switzerland and Norway will be played in Basel on July 2. The final will also be played there on July 27.
