On Monday, the Swedish women's football team gathered in Marbella. Already on Friday, it's a tough situation in the first Nations League semifinal in a best-of-two against world number one Spain, at La Rosaleda stadium in Málaga.
Among other things, that's why Tony Gustavsson chose to close the initial half hour of his first training session as new national team manager with short notice – to "rehearse" his match plan against Spain.
I wanted to establish the playing idea and match plan as early as possible, says Gustavsson with a fairly hoarse voice after having engaged in shouting out instructions throughout the training.
For the players, the tactical review – without journalists and photographers present – was an unusual, but appreciated, move.
It was something new for me, says Chelsea defender Nathalie Björn.
He has a clear idea of how he wants to play and how he wants to utilize our qualities. So I think it's good, we don't have that many days to get everything in order.
More willing to run
Peter Gerhardsson achieved great successes with the women's national team during his time as national team manager. Tony Gustavsson says he wants to keep the basics that Gerhardsson laid, and spice it up with even more sharpness in parts of the game.
As football coaches, they share many technical ideas, but the personalities differ somewhat. During Monday's training at La Quinta Football Center in Marbella, Gustavsson took almost as many steps as Gerhardsson did during all his eight years in the post.
Of course, it's a bit different. It's a different type of person, a different type of coach. A different type of energy, says Anna Sandberg.
"Good energy"
The 22-year-old Manchester United defender praises what Gerhardsson did with the Swedish national team, but also notes that everything has its time.
Now we get other ideas in the national team which can also be good, to get in some new thoughts. Peter and the leadership team did fantastically well for many years, but sometime you have to get in something new too.
Arsenal midfielder Rosa Kafaji, currently on loan to Brighton, has also got a positive first impression of Tony Gustavsson.
I've got a good feeling. He seems competent and passionate, we like that. And he's very positive, it's good energy, says Kafaji.
Spain–Sweden kicks off at 8 pm on Friday. On Tuesday next week, the semifinal will be decided with a return match at Gamla Ullevi in Gothenburg.
Lasse Mannheimer/TT
Facts: Nations League finals 2025
TT
Semifinal, best of two matches:
October 24: Spain–Sweden, Germany–France.
October 28: Sweden–Spain, France–Germany.
Final and match for third place, best of two matches:
November 28: Germany/France–Sweden/Spain.
December 2: Sweden/Spain–Germany/France.
