Six centurions make Sweden squad

By Jan Juhlin

There are six players with over a century of caps and four with five or less in Marika Domanski-Lyfors' 20-player Sweden squad for this summer's UEFA European Women's Championship.

Milestones
Karolina Westberg, Jane Törnqvist and striking duo Hanna Ljungberg and Victoria Svensson have all represented their country more than 100 times, while Kristin Bengtsson and Malin Andersson should reach the 150-cap mark in England. In contrast, goalkeeper Maja Åström - selected in place of the injured Umeå IK No1 Sofia Lundgren - and defender Anna Paulson have each played just once in the yellow of Sweden.

Good form
Linköpings FC duo Sara Larsson and Caroline Seger are the other inexperienced internationals, although the latter enjoyed an excellent Algarve Cup in March. Their club-mate, striker Josefine Övist, also makes the cut despite struggling with injuries for much of the last year.

Right blend
Domanski-Lyfors said of selecting her squad for England: "It's been a really tough decision, perhaps my toughest decision since I took charge. There are a number of good players that are not included in this squad but I still believe that it's a good mix. We've got some players with loads of experience which is important but we've also got a couple of up-and-coming players who are in the squad to see, learn and push the experienced players for places in the starting lineup.”

European finalists
Four players from UEFA Women's Cup finalists Djurgården/Älvsjö are in the party, along with five from Linköping and six from Umeå. The Swedes are among the favourites to lift the crown this summer having reached the final of the last edition in 2001 and the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup, losing each to Germany. They begin their Group A campaign against Denmark on 5 June ahead of games against Finland and England.

Sweden squad

Goalkeepers
Caroline Jönsson (Malmö FF DFF)
Hedvig Lindahl (Linköpings FC)
Maja Åström (Djurgården/Älvsjö)

Defenders
Karolina Westberg (Umeå IK)
Jane Törnqvist (Djurgården/Älvsjö)
Hanna Marklund (Sunnanå SK)
Kristin Bengtsson (Djurgården/Älvsjö)
Sara Larsson (Linköpings FC)
Anna Paulson (Umeå IK)

Midfielders
Malin Moström (Umeå IK)
Frida Östberg (Umeå IK)
Malin Andersson (Malmö FF DFF)
Maria Karlsson (Linköpings FC)
Therese Sjögran (Malmö FF DFF)
Caroline Seger (Linköpings FC)
Anna Sjöström (Umeå IK)

Forwards
Hanna Ljungberg (Umeå IK)
Victoria Svensson (Djurgården/Älvsjö)
Lotta Schelin (Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC)
Josefine Öqvist (Linköpings FC)