What: Nations League I football, bronze medal match, first leg of the best of two (the return leg will be played at Arena 3 in Stockholm on Tuesday).
Where: Stade Auguste-Delaune, Reims, France.
When: Friday at 9:10 p.m.
TV/radio: The match will be broadcast on SVT, SVT Play and on P4 Radiosporten.
Losers' battle: Sweden had no chance in the semi-final against Spain, who advanced to the final after a 5–0 aggregate win (4–0 in Málaga, 1–0 in Gothenburg). France was even closer in their semi-final against Germany, losing 0–1 away and drawing 2–2 at home.
Sweden is preparing for the future: New national team captain Tony Gustavsson had a tough first national team meeting with two straight losses and also zero goals scored. At the same time, he has been clear that he has not only selected players who will be able to challenge in this year's Nations League, he also wants to start forming a squad for this spring's World Cup qualifiers and the upcoming championships: World Cup 2027, Olympics 2028 and European Championship 2029.
We are just in the embryo of a four-year journey where we will build a new national team, says Gustavsson.
Heavy farewells: The fact that veteran Linda Sembrant, 38, is leaving after this Nations League collection is not entirely unexpected, she had already said that the European Championship this summer was her last championship. All the more surprising that another center-back rock, 32-year-old Bayern Munich star Magdalena Eriksson, is leaving the national team immediately. This means that the generational change in the back line must happen already now.
Debutants: Three brand new names are in the squad against France: 19-year-old center back Bella Andersson, Häcken's right back Alice Bergström and Liverpool striker Beata Olsson, who was called up after Rebecka Blomqvist was forced to withdraw due to injury.
French stars missing: Both striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto and left-back Selma Bacha will miss the matches against Sweden with injuries. These are two heavy losses for the home team.
Sweden's squad:
Goalkeepers: Tove Enblom, Vålerenga, Jennifer Falk, Häcken, Moa Öhman, Malmö FF.
Defenders: Bella Andersson, Real Madrid, Alice Bergström, Häcken, Nathalie Björn, Chelsea, Smilla Holmberg, Hammarby, Elma Junttila Nelhage, Lyon, Anna Sandberg, Manchester United, Linda Sembrant, AIK.
Midfielders/strikers: Filippa Angeldahl, Real Madrid, Anna Anvegård, Häcken, Kosovare Asllani, London City, Stina Blackstenius, Arsenal, Evelyn Ijeh, Milan, Madelen Janogy, Fiorentina, Monica Jusu Bah, Häcken, Rosa Kafaji, Brighton, Hanna Lundkvist, San Diego, Beata Olsson, Liverpool. Fridolina Rolfö, Manchester United, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Chelsea, Felicia Schröder, Häcken, Julia Zigiotti Olme, Manchester United.
National team captain: Tony Gustavsson.
France squad:
Goalkeepers: Mylène Chavas, Paris FC, Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, Juventus, Constance Picaud, Fleury.
Defenders: Elisa de Almeida, Paris Saint-Germain, Maëlle Lakrar, Real Madrid, Griedge Mbock, Paris Saint-Germain, Perle Morroni, San Diego, Melween N'Dongala, Paris FC, Thiniba Samoura, Paris Saint-Germain, Wassa Sangare, London City, Alice Sombath, Lyon.
Midfielder/striker: Sandy Baltimore, Chelsea, Laurina Fazer, San Diego, Grace Geyoro, London City, Oriane Jean-Francois, Chelsea, Sakina Karchaoui, Paris Saint-Germain, Anaële Le Moguedec, Paris FC, Kessya Bussy, Wolfsburg, Kadidiatou Diani, Lyon, Naomie Feller, Real Madrid, Kelly Gago, Everton, Melvine Malard, Manchester United, Clara Mateo, Paris FC.
National team captain: Laurent Bonadei.
