It is in principle the same players who lost the European Championship quarterfinal against England in July who also start against Spain in Málaga tonight. The only differences are that Amanda Ilestedt takes one of the central defender positions in the absence of injured Magdalena Eriksson, and that left back Anna Sandberg – who was not part of the European Championship squad – replaces Jonna Andersson, who is not part of the Nations League squad.
This is the first international match under new national team manager Tony Gustavsson, who took over after Peter Gerhardsson after the summer's European Championship.
"We cannot change too much before the match during the short time we have here. It is about refining and adjusting details and seeing which players outside the starting eleven have the opportunity to come in and change the game picture based on the different scenarios that can arise", says Gustavsson to the Swedish Football Association's website.
Sweden's starting eleven (4–3–3): Jennifer Falk – Hanna Lundkvist, Nathalie Björn, Amanda Ilestedt, Anna Sandberg – Filippa Angeldahl, Kosovare Asllani, Julia Zigiotti Olme – Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Stina Blackstenius, Fridolina Rolfö.
Substitutes: Tove Enblom (gk), Moa Öhman (gk), Smilla Holmberg, Elma Junttila Nelhage, Amanda Nildén, Linda Sembrant, Hanna Bennison, Rebecka Blomqvist, Evelyn Ijeh, Monica Jusu Bah, Rosa Kafaji, Felicia Schröder.
Spain–Sweden kicks off at 20:00. The semifinal is decided as a double match, with the return match in Göteborg on Tuesday.
