Tony Gustavsson works with so-called "team captains", players who are given extra responsibility during Sweden's matches. The fact that Elma Junttila Nelhage was named one of them in her fourth international match, Tuesday's World Cup qualifier against Italy, says something about the trust the national coach places in young players.
"Since the first meeting, I have felt the trust of Tony and the management team. I like that responsibility. But it's clear that you don't usually have that when you've played four international matches," says the 22-year-old Lyon defender.
Big difference in average age
Since Tony Gustavsson took over as national team coach from Peter Gerhardsson, the rejuvenation of the senior national team has progressed rapidly. In Tuesday's match against Italy, the Swedish starting eleven had an average age of 25.1 years, compared to 29.5 years in the eleven that started in Gerhardsson's last international match, the European Championship quarter-final against England last summer.
It's clear that there is a difference, says Häcken's Monica Jusu Bah, 22, who also started against Italy.
You're really grateful to get the chance. We young players have known each other for a long time and have very good chemistry even off the pitch. It's also noticeable on the pitch.
The generational shift has gone faster than Tony Gustavsson probably expected. Not only have seasoned defenders like Magdalena Eriksson and Linda Sembrant ended their national team careers, the ongoing World Cup qualifiers have also seen several established players missing due to injuries.
"Sounds pretty crazy"
The Swedish back line against Italy consisted of two 19-year-olds (Smilla Holmberg and Bella Andersson), a 22-year-old (Junttila Nelhage) and a 23-year-old (Hanna Lundkvist). This gives an average age of 20.8.
"It sounds pretty crazy when you hear it like that. It's usually not that young in a back line. But when we play we don't think we're 22 or whatever. Then we just go out and run," says Elma Junttila Nelhage.
Only the group winner goes straight to the World Cup in Brazil next year. But all teams will at least make the playoffs, and with that security behind them, the younger players can play with less pressure while they warm up in the national team jerseys.
"These players must feel that they are allowed to make mistakes along the way, because they will," says Tony Gustavsson.
"But since they have started this journey so early, there may be big 'ups and downs' at the beginning, but then fewer and fewer, and then they may be stable until, if we manage to get there, the World Cup in Brazil."
