So she's sitting here again, wearing national team clothes at a press conference the day before an important match. It wasn't a given after the summer's football European Championship, where Sweden fell heavily on penalties in the quarterfinals against England.
But the desire for that title she lacks was too strong for Kosovare Asllani. So when the new national team captain Tony Gustavsson traveled to London to see what the 36-year-old thought about a possible continuation in the national team, the answer was finally given.
The big matches are the most fun to play. To get to fight for a title for Sweden – these are the matches you live for, says the London City midfielder at a press conference at Marbella Football Center an hour south of the La Rosaleda arena in Málaga.
17 years in the national team
Sweden will take on Spain there on Friday evening, with a return match in Gothenburg on Tuesday. The winner will advance to the Nations League final against either Germany or France in the November-December shift.
Asllani wants that trophy.
She has been chasing it for 17 years, since her national team debut in 2008, and that's why she chose to continue in the national team.
I've been open to the Nations League all the time. It's about a title and you love to fight for them. So it was clear from my side. Tony was a bit more unsure if I wanted to, so he was very happy about it.
What would it mean for you to lift a trophy?
Everything. It's what you've been fighting for for 18 years or whatever I've been in the national team. It's crazy numbers actually. It's what you've been fighting for, so for me it would have been a bit like the circle closes if we bring the gold to Sweden.
For Tony Gustavsson, it was a given to select Asllani as soon as he understood that she wanted to continue. He let the European Championship disappointment settle before he got in touch.
Then I just sent a message and asked if she was ready and she replied "absolutely". So then I got on the first available plane, says Gustavsson.
Then it was up to her and she was still burning and hungry. And then I became incredibly happy.
Easy captain choice
It was also a given that Asllani would retain the captain's armband.
When "Kosse" wanted to continue, it was crystal clear to me that she would be the captain, says Gustavsson.
What happens after the Nations League finals, none of them know. But it would be a perfect ending if Sweden wins the tournament, says Kosovare Asllani.
I've tried to take it a bit in stages. And it's not like I'm hiding things. We'll see how it feels, we start with the Nations League. But if we win, so ... it would have been perfect.
