Sweden will reach the Nations League semifinals with at least a draw. Denmark needs to win to snatch the spot in the autumn finals.
Tuesday's Nordic football derby at Strawberry Arena in Solna is a group final in the true sense of the word. And then the Danish attacking veteran Pernille Harder is delighted about a Swedish suspension.
Tough encounters recently
Magdalena Eriksson, Harder's life partner and teammate in Bayern München, received a yellow card in Friday's 0-0 match against Italy and will watch the meeting with Denmark from the stands.
It's actually very nice. We would have played three matches against each other in a short time, now it's only two anyway, says Pernille Harder.
The countries will also face each other in the European Championship premiere. In the first Nations League meeting, when Sweden won 2–1 in February, there were several tough duels between attacker Harder and defender Eriksson.
As a football player, it's nice that "Magda" won't play. But also to avoid these duels between us.
"Ridiculous yellow card"
The yellow card against Italy came when Magdalena Eriksson kicked a high ball in face height against an Italian defender.
It's a ridiculously yellow card, but I understand that I get it. There's nothing wrong with it. I knew directly what it meant. It's of course very sad, says Eriksson.
Now she will instead try to instill courage in the blue-yellow teammates from the side. Not a favorite pastime, admits Bayern München-backen.
When you sit on the side, it's a greater nervousness and you have less control. I'll still support the team in everything I can. Now it's someone else who will get to play and will do it great. I'll push the team and help them as much as possible.
In Eriksson's absence, much speaks for Linda Sembrant, also in Bayern München last season, taking the place as defender alongside Nathalie Björn in Chelsea.
Sweden-Denmark kicks off at 19.30 on Tuesday evening.
Table, A-division, group 4
Sweden, 9 points, +2 in goal difference.
Denmark, 9 p, 0.
Italy, 7 p, +1.
Wales, 2 p, –2.
Last round: Sweden-Denmark (19.30, Solna), Wales-Italy (19.30, Swansea).
Conditions: Sweden wins the group with at least a draw against Denmark thanks to better statistics in mutual meetings against both Denmark and Italy. Otherwise, Denmark becomes the group winner and the team that goes on to the autumn finals.
