The attacking game has not been good enough

Six goals ahead in six qualifying matches. Three of the goals also came in a match against bottom team Ireland. At times, we have had problems creating those really dangerous scoring opportunities, says Barcelona star Fridolina Rolfö after missing a direct spot to the European Championship.

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The attacking game has not been good enough
Photo: Björn Larsson Rosvall/TT

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Six goals in six qualifying matches.

Three of the goals came in a match against bottom team Ireland.

Sometimes we've had problems creating those really dangerous scoring opportunities, says Barcelona star Fridolina Rolfö after missing a direct spot in the European Championship.

Sweden needed to win the qualifying final against England to go directly to the European Championship in football next summer, but the match at Gamla Ullevi in Gothenburg ended 0–0.

It's a bit different today because England is sticking to their back four in principle all the time, so we don't get the counter-attacks that we're skilled at, says striker Fridolina Rolfö and continues:

Without that, it becomes more of a set defense that we face, and we know that we have development potential there.

Lacking Blackstenius

In total, it was six goals in six matches – four of them in the double match against bottom team Ireland. Against top duo France and England, it was a total of two goals in four matches (two losses and two draws).

The attacking game overall has not been good enough, says national team coach Peter Gerhardsson.

Arsenal star Stina Blackstenius started as central striker against England (1–1) and France (0–1) in April, but then got injured and has missed the rest of the qualifying round.

It hasn't been entirely easy for the players who have played to fill the role that Stina had and the qualities she has, says Gerhardsson.

The national team coach thinks that substitutes Madelen Janogy and Evelyn Ijeh have done tactically "very well".

They've done what they could, but we've had a little problem, says Gerhardsson.

Striker Johanna Rytting Kaneryd:

We won't win any matches if we don't score, it's that simple.

"Become a little more desperate"

Previously, Sweden has scored many goals on set pieces, but it hasn't been a Swedish recipe for success in the European Championship qualifying against top teams.

It's a great strength we have in the team, but of course, we want to develop our game and put more pressure on them, says Rytting Kaneryd.

Captain Kosovare Asllani is seeking more desperation.

We need to become a little more desperate and forceful, get more balls into the box. We play a lot around the penalty area, but we need to get more balls into the box, simply, says Asllani.

Now Sweden is waiting for a playoff in the fall. There, it requires two wins in double matches to reach the European Championship in Switzerland next summer. Who Sweden will meet will be drawn on Friday.

+ England (away) 1–1

Goal scorer: Fridolina Rolfö.

+ France (home) 0–1

+ Ireland (away) 3–0

Goal scorers: Johanna Rytting Kaneryd 2, Rolfö.

+ Ireland (home) 1–0

Goal scorer: Magdalena Eriksson.

+ France (away) 1–2

Goal scorer: Josefine Rybrink.

+ England (home) 0–0

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By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

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