National team captain Peter Gerhardsson surprised almost everyone when he picked Hammarby's Smilla Holmberg, 18, and Häcken's Felicia Schröder, 18, in Sweden's starting eleven away against Italy (0–0) in the Nations League football.
Schröder played for over an hour and had a tough time in an unfamiliar offensive midfield role. Holmberg played the entire match and impressed as a right-back.
I was incredibly happy. It's something you've longed for your whole life since you started playing football. It's a bit hard to picture it would happen. I'm incredibly grateful to have gotten this chance and am very proud to have played my first minutes in the A-national team, says Smilla Holmberg.
The defender made her debut in front of, among others, her father in the stands at Ennio Tardini Stadium in Parma.
He had probably booked (the trip) anyway, but it was probably extra essential when I was going to start.
Felicia Schröder, usually a forward, was replaced by Kosovare Asllani in the second half.
It was probably a bit shocking. Of course, a joy and an honor to get this opportunity and trust from Peter, says the Damallsvenskan top scorer about her starting debut.
Schröder's family will attend Sweden's upcoming Nations League match at home against Denmark in Stockholm on Tuesday.
