The Sweden Women’s World Cup 2023 squad are into the quarter-finals of the tournament.
Sweden have both enjoyed and endured a strange tournament so far. With USA and Germany gone, they are the highest-ranked nation left in the tournament and have got all the way to the quarter-finals with four wins from four games, yet it hasn’t really quite clicked for Peter Gerhardsson’s side so far.
While from open play the attack has looked somewhat disjointed, they have utilised their aerial threat to devastating effect, with centre-back Amanda Ilestedt finding the net three times this tournament, all headers from corners.
After her last-gasp winner to salvage a win against South Africa in their opening game, this threat was evident against Italy in a dominant 5-0 win where Milena Bertolini’s side failed to deal with the combined danger of Jonna Andersson’s corners and Ilestedt’s aerial presence in the box.
But we haven’t yet seen the best of Sweden’s attacking players, such as Kosovare Asllani, Stina Blackstenius and Fridolina Rolfo. But, they have found a way, and had goalkeeper Zecira Musovic to thank for a string of superb saves against the USA as they knocked the double world champions out earlier this week.
They were on the verge several times, never more so than when Sophia Smith had the chance to win it in the penalty shootout, either side of misses from Megan Rapinoe and Kelley O’Hara. The margins it came down to in the end thanks to Lina Hurtig was like nothing this tournament has seen before, and maybe Sweden’s name might just be written on the trophy, but they will have to improve against current favourites Japan.
Sweden Women's World Cup 2023 squad
(Image credit: Alex Pantling - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Sweden Women's World Cup 2023 squad
GK: Zecira Musovic (Chelsea)
GK: Jennifer Falk (BK Häcken)
GK: Tove Enblom (KIF Örebro)
DF: Jonna Andersson (Hammarby)
DF: Linda Sembrant (Juventus)
DF: Hanna Lundkvist (Atletico Madrid)
DF: Magdalena Eriksson (Chelsea)
DF: Nathalie Björn (Everton)
DF: Anna Sandberg (BK Häcken)
DF: Amanda Ilestedt (PSG)
MF: Kosovare Asllani (AC Milan)
MF: Filippa Angeldahl (Manchester City)
MF: Caroline Seger (Rosengard)
MF: Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (Chelsea)
MF: Hanna Bennison (Everton)
MF: Elin Rubensson (BK Häcken)
MF: Olivia Schough (Rosengard)
FW: Madelen Janogy (Hammarby)
FW: Sofia Jakobsson (San Diego Wave)
FW: Stina Blackstenius (Arsenal)
FW: Rebecka Blomqvist (Wolfsburg)
FW: Fridolina Rolfö (Barcelona)
FW: Lina Hurtig (Arsenal)
Sweden manager
Sweden Women's World Cup squad 2023: Who is Sweden's manager?
Peter Gerhardsson took over from current Brazil manager Pia Sundhage following the 2017 Euros. Gerhardsson was previously a professional footballer in Sweden and won the Swedish Cup in 2015-16 with men’s club BK Häcken.
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Under Gerhardsson, Sweden have reached at least the final four of every international tournament they have participated in, but are still yet to win any silverware under him.
Top scorers
Who has scored for Sweden?
Two goals
Rebecka Blomqvist
Fridolina Rolfo
One goal
Stina Blackstenius
Elin Rubensson
Sweden Women's World Cup 2023 squad: How many players are Sweden allowed to take to the World Cup 2023?
Sweden Women’s World Cup 2023 squad will be limited to just 23 players. Countries had requested to have extended squads of 26 but Peter Gerhardsson will be required to select just 23 to fly to Australia and New Zealand.
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Jessy Parker Humphreys is a freelance women's football writer. A Chelsea fan, Jessy has been following the women's game since being taken to the 2003/04 FA Cup final at Loftus Road and seeing Arsenal thrash Jessy's local side Charlton. Fortunately, Arsenal don't win quite as much as they used to – although Jessy hopes Charlton will also be back at the top of the women's game one day.
