What: Women's World Cup qualifiers, first round.
Where: Stadio Oreste Granillo, Reggio Calabria, Italy.
When: Tuesday at 6:15 p.m.
TV/radio: SVT2, SVT Play and P4 Radiosporten.
Prerequisites: Sweden plays in Division A of the European World Cup qualifiers. This means the World Cup dream remains alive regardless of how the qualifiers go. In addition to Italy, Sweden's group also includes Serbia and Denmark, and only the group winner goes directly to the World Cup in Brazil 2027. But there is also a lifeline for the other three teams in the form of playoff games.
The opposition: Italy, ranked 13th in the world, should not be underestimated. "Le Azzurre" showed this clearly in the European Championship last summer when they were on their way to the women's national team's first European Championship final in 28 years, before England equalized late in added time in the semi-final and then decided in extra time. Recent meetings between Sweden and Italy have been tight, with two narrow Swedish wins and two draws in the last four. The last Italian victory came in 2018, 1–0 in an international match in Cremona.
Where is Stina Blackstenius?: The Arsenal striker will not play against Italy. The 30-year-old left the squad recently for family reasons.
Where is Tony Gustavsson?: The Swedish head coach will be in the stadium, but will not be allowed to lead the team on the touchline for the World Cup qualifier. Gustavsson was sent off late in Sweden's most recent international, the Nations League bronze medal match against France at 3 Arena in Stockholm, and is suspended for the game. He will be allowed to follow the match from the stands while assistant coach Johanna Almgren will be in charge from the sidelines.
Where are all the defenders?: The Swedish defense looks thinner than it has been in a long time. Above all, there is a great shortage of center-backs with players like Magdalena Eriksson and Linda Sembrant having retired from the national team, while both Nathalie Björn and Amanda Ilestedt are injured. The inexperienced duo of Elma Junttila Nelhage and Bella Andersson are the only established center-backs in the squad, with versatile Hanna Lundkvist and national team debutant Sofia Reidy as possible alternatives.
Sweden's squad:
Goalkeepers: Tove Enblom, Vålerenga, Jennifer Falk, Liverpool, Moa Öhman, Malmö FF.
Backs: Bella Andersson, Real Madrid, Smilla Holmberg, Arsenal, Elma Junttila Nelhage, Lyon, Hanna Lundkvist, Manchester United, Amanda Nildén, Tottenham, Sofia Reidy, Hammarby, Fridolina Rolfö, Manchester United, Hanna Wijk, Tottenham.
Midfielders/strikers: Filippa Angeldahl, Real Madrid, Kosovare Asllani, London City Lionesses, Hanna Bennison, Real Madrid, Stina Blackstenius, Arsenal, Rebecka Blomqvist, Eintracht Frankfurt, Evelyn Ijeh, North Carolina Courage, Monica Jusu Bah, Häcken, Rosa Kafaji, Brighton, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Chelsea, Felicia Schröder, Häcken, Matilda Vinberg, Tottenham, Julia Zigiotti Olme, Manchester United.
Head coach: Tony Gustavsson.
Italy squad:
Goalkeepers: Rachele Baldi, Francesca Durante, Laura Giuliani.
Backs: Valentina Bergamaschi, Lisa Boattin, Federica D'Auria, Lucia Di Guglielmo, Martina Lenzini, Elena Linari, Elisabetta Oliviero, Cecilia Salvai, Angelica Soffia.
Midfielders/forwards: Chiara Beccari, Barbara Bonansea, Michela Cambiaghi, Sofia Cantore, Arianna Caruso, Giulia Dragoni, Cristiana Girelli, Manuela Giugliano, Benedetta Glionna, Giada Greggi, Matilde Pavan, Martina Piemonte, Elisa Polli, Eva Schatzer, Emma Severini.
Head coach: Andrea Soncin.
