National team captain Tony Gustavsson has been thinking a lot about the leadership of the national football team after the injuries to regular captain Kosovare Asllani and Nathalie Björn, who previously replaced her.
Against Denmark tonight (kick-off at 7 p.m.), he has selected four so-called team captains - Stina Blackstenius, by virtue of having the most international caps, will be the team captain if she starts.
Tony Gustavsson hopes that in that case she will not change anything.
"I've had a lot of players over the years who thought that when they get the armband they're expected to be someone else or something else. But they shouldn't be anything other than themselves," he says.
"Stina leads by example, always pushing hard, always working hard, always putting the team first, always being professional, taking care of and preparing herself, and spreading calm around her with her calm charisma."
The Arsenal striker herself is on the same track.
"It's super fun, of course. I'm very grateful for that trust," she says.
"But I'm just going to try to be who I am and the player I am."
The others in the current group of captains are goalkeeper Jennifer Falk, Elma Junttila Nelhage at the back and Julia Zigiotti Olme in midfield.
"Stina has done an incredible amount for Swedish football, so she has a lot of respect here in the team and around," says Julia Zigiotti Olme.
"I think she will do an incredibly good job."
The match against Denmark tonight is Sweden's third in qualifying for the World Cup in Brazil next year. After a 1–0 win against Italy and only a 0–0 draw against Serbia, Denmark is leading the group.
Facts: Sweden's World Cup qualifying squad
Goalkeepers: Tove Enblom, Vålerenga, Jennifer Falk, Liverpool, Zecira Musovic, Malmö FF.
Backs: Bella Andersson, Real Madrid, Smilla Holmberg, Arsenal, Amanda Ilestedt, Frankfurt, Elma Junttila Nelhage, Lyon, Hanna Lundkvist, Manchester United, Amanda Nildén, Tottenham, Sofia Reidy, Hammarby.
Midfielders/strikers: Filippa Angeldahl, Real Madrid, Hanna Bennison, Real Madrid, Stina Blackstenius, Arsenal, Rebecka Blomqvist, Frankfurt, Evelyn Ijeh, North Carolina Courage, Monica Jusu Bah, Häcken, Rosa Kafaji, Brighton, Beata Olsson, Liverpool, Fridolina Rolfö, Manchester United, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Chelsea, Felicia Schröder, Häcken, Matilda Vinberg, Tottenham, Julia Zigiotti Olme, Manchester United.
