Updated 22.31 | Published 22.26
ODENSE. Fridolina Rolfö has been given a smaller role in the national team under Tony Gustavsson.
After 1–2 against Denmark and a missed direct spot at the WC, the national team captain wants to put his foot down:
– If there is someone who speculates that there is some schism or some personal dialogue that is not good, then they can stop it immediately, he tells Sportbladet.
Rolfö has been one of the most influential players in the national team for several years.
This WC qualification, she has not started a match.
In the 1–2 loss against Denmark, she was substituted in the 83rd minute. Crazy too late, according to SVT’s expert Lotta Schelin.
– It’s too little, of course. She has shown over time that she has an incredibly high minimum level. We need her tip. Against a low-lying Denmark, you want Fridolina Rolfö. She is used to getting around the edges and if she is on the other side, she gets into situations with her main game. I always wonder when she’s not flat. It is sad that she has ended up so far behind in the ranks, she says in the broadcast.
Rolfö, just like many others in the team, was depressed after the loss, which means that Sweden misses the direct place to the World Cup and that the playoffs await.
When she is asked about Lotta Schelin’s words, she replies:
– I don’t have much to say about it. You always want to play. Now I got minutes. Nice to have a new position and a bit more central in the box. Then I had hoped to help further with scoring, but it is Tony’s choice in the end, she says.
How do you see the role you have been given under Tony?
– I don’t know what to say. I just want to do my best and help the team to the WC with the experience I have and influence the match pictures to get us to the WC.
Custom role
Rolfö was replaced at the same time as Anna Anvegård. Rolfö was also extremely close to nodding in the equalizer from close range after a few minutes on the pitch.
Tony Gustavsson explains that they had trained specifically to include the duo in a forcing phase.
– If you look at the forcing now, we manage to create exactly what we have been training for with posts on Rolfö on the far post. She is skilled in the main game there and has this winning mentality as well. It would have been incredibly funny if she had been paid for that nod. That’s exactly where we’ve tailored this collection for her.
He continues:
– There will always be discussions when you lose. Who would have started? Should you have switched earlier? It is a natural discussion in the coaching job. If Rolfö had scored and then Anvegård had made a long-range shot at the far cross, we would have stood there and said “God, how good it was”. Now the criticism will come like a letter in the mail and I fully understand that.
Puts the foot down
He concludes by wanting to be clear about one thing.
– However, what I want to be very clear about is that if there is someone who speculates that there is some schism or some personal dialogue that is not good, then they can stop it immediately. This is about football and there is a very good dialogue and there are players who are extremely motivated to play in this national team, regardless of whether you start or not.
Rolfö says she shares that opinion.
– Yes, absolutely, she says.
This is how Sweden goes to the WC
Regardless of whether Sweden finishes second or third in the group, in the first playoff round they will face a team from the qualifying C division. Either one of the six group winners or one of the two best runners-up. Those matches are played in double-headers in October.
If Sweden wins there, Sweden will be drawn against one of the winners on the other side of the playoff table, where group jumbos from the A division and group winners from the B division are pitted against second and third placers from the B division groups.
There, Sweden can be pitted against everything from Poland and Switzerland to Portugal and Finland.
Those matches are played in November/December.
