The women's national team captain has long advocated for an expansion of the number of teams in the Olympic Games. And on Thursday, the International Football Federation (Fifa) announced that it wants to change to 16 women's teams and 12 men's teams in the Olympic Games, instead of the opposite as it has been so far.
Peter Gerhardsson gives a thumbs up.
Yes, if you want to maintain the level of the Olympic Games, that it's something important, then it's clear that you must increase the number of teams, says Gerhardsson.
"A matter of fairness"
He points out that the Olympic Games are an A-national team tournament for women (it takes place during an official national team window) while the men's teams are U23-national teams. Therefore, the focus should be on the former.
Somewhere it's also a matter of fairness. I was involved in the Olympic Games in 1996, and then there were only eight teams for women. Since then, not much has happened. So this is welcome if you want the women's Olympic Games in football to be a big, important tournament.
Otherwise, he sees a risk that other championships and tournaments will outcompete the Olympic Games. Like the relatively new Nations League format, where Sweden takes on Italy at the Strawberry arena in Solna on Friday evening.
Sweden tops its group after two matches. Only the four group winners advance to the final in the October-November shift.
More important with the European Championship
Bayern München-back Magdalena Eriksson thinks that the Nations League is an important tournament. But the traditional championships – with the upcoming European Championship in Switzerland next – still weigh heavier.
It's clear that it's bigger to win a European Championship medal, says Eriksson.
But here and now, this match is the most important for us. We want to win the Nations League group and then we want to do a good European Championship and then we want to win the "Final Four" (Nations League final). It's not as important, but it's important.
Just like Peter Gerhardsson, she is also positive about the proposal for an Olympic tournament with more teams.
I think that's the right way to go. Twelve teams in the Olympic Games have been too few. It will be a much better tournament when there are at least 16 teams. So that only the top one and two (in each group) advance and that you're not basically guaranteed a quarterfinal just because you've made it to the tournament. I think it will increase interest in the tournament, says Eriksson.
The table in group A4 after two of six rounds:
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Sweden, 4 points, +1 in goal difference.
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Denmark, 3, +1.
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Italy, 3, –1.
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Wales, 1, –1.
Remaining matches:
4 April: Sweden–Italy, Wales–Denmark.
8 April: Sweden–Wales, Denmark–Italy.
30 May: Italy–Sweden, Denmark–Wales.
3 June: Wales–Italy, Sweden–Denmark.
