It is not so strange that many point out Jennifer Falk as a key player in the hunt for a Swedish European Championship gold in football, in that case the first since 1984.
Since Zecira Musovic is missing the championship due to pregnancy, it is for the first time in a long time no discussion about who is Sweden's first goalkeeper. Tove Enblom made her first 45 national team minutes in the genre rehearsal against Norway last week and Emma Holmgren is still waiting to play her first national team match.
Falk therefore feels a different calm than before ahead of Friday's premiere match against Denmark in Geneva.
It makes me not think as much. I do not analyze every intervention I make. I just keep going, says Jennifer Falk.
Two championship matches
The 32-year-old Häcken goalkeeper has accumulated a lot of championship routine, but not so much playing time. In two World Championships, one European Championship and one Olympic Games, she has only guarded the goal in a total of two matches. Both have also been result-wise insignificant group stage matches, when Sweden has already secured advancement.
The match against Denmark will be something else.
I think it will be a bit more nerves. I'm almost always nervous when I play. But I've learned to handle it, it makes me focused. But there's more at stake now.
Mental blow in the World Championship
After Hedvig Lindahl finished, Falk and Zecira Musovic fought for the place as first goalkeeper in the national team. In the World Championship two years ago, the choice fell on Musovic. The petting took hard on Falk, something she previously told about in Offside.
It was very tough. I did everything to be able to contribute to the team and kept my feelings very much within me. And it became very tough for me. I may have needed to get out my feelings more so that I personally would feel better, says Falk.
The championship became a blue and yellow success, Sweden came home with a bronze. It is a World Championship medal that Falk feels proud of, but to get to go into the European Championship as a given first goalkeeper is still something extra.
It feels really fun. And really motivating. It means something for my self-confidence anyway.
