It is not difficult to figure out what Asllani is referring to, even though she refuses to say it straight out. The team that wins group C avoids the final playoff half that contains the team that may have impressed the most in the European Championship: world champion Spain.
Yes, you, they look good, so to speak, admits Fridolina Rolfö.
The Swedish attacking star has a good grasp of the Spanish team after her four years in Barcelona, the club she is leaving after the past season.
Of course, it is no opponent you want to have. But if you are going to make it all the way, you have to beat all opponents.
Does not prefer any team
First, the group stage must be completed, then a quarterfinal against one of the teams in group D on Thursday (if Sweden wins the group) or Saturday awaits. But for Sweden's national team coach Peter Gerhardsson, it is all the same which team it will be in the quarterfinal.
I think it is very even among the teams we can meet, you cannot say that France, England or the Netherlands suit us better, says Gerhardsson.
It is not just about winning the group and thereby ending up on a potentially easier half of the playoff tree. Every victory has significance, says Sweden's team captain Kosovare Asllani.
We want to win all matches. Regardless of whether we know that a draw is enough, we go into all matches with that mindset. We want to win the match and we want to win the group, says the 35-year-old midfielder.
Gives self-confidence
Striker Johanna Rytting Kaneryd agrees with that.
We always go in to win every match we play. And above all, it gives self-confidence, winning the group will give us a lot there. We should win the group to get a good feeling before the upcoming matches, says Rytting Kaneryd.
Sweden–Germany kicks off at Letzigrundstadion in Zürich at 9 pm tonight.
