Svensson shoots for the top

By Jan Juhlin

As if keeping Victoria Svensson quiet was not already a fearsome task, the striker has warned Sweden's opponents at the 2005 UEFA European Women's Championship that she still has room to improve.

'Continue to develop'
A record of 40 goals in 110 international appearances tells its own story but, still only 28, the Djurgården/Alvsjö forward is not resting on her laurels. "I hope I can continue to develop as a player and in doing so I'll obviously help the team," she told uefa.com.

'Feels great'
Having fired her club to a place in this season's UEFA Women's Cup final - which they lost to 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam - the signs are that Svensson has hit a rich vein of form at just the right time: "This year didn't start so well as I struggled with injuries, but it feels great to have the European Championship to look forward to."

European challenge
With Svensson set to resume her deadly partnership with Hanna Ljungberg in attack, Sweden start among the favourites for the tournament in England. Unseating current world and European champions Germany will certainly take some doing but Svensson, who began playing football for boys' team Gällstads IF at the age of four, has made a habit of rising to the challenge.

Early challenge
The rule-makers eventually put a stop to mixed-gender sides but Svensson believes the experience was invaluable: "I'm sure the fact I played alongside boys during my early years helped me develop as a player."

Breakthrough year
She settled in to the all-girls' game with Grönahögs IK, before really catching the eye at Nittorps IK where her performances earned her a first international excursion against Italy in 1996. Jitex BK soon came calling and after being named Rookie of the Year in her first season at the club, Svensson was rewarded with a move to Stockholm giants Älvsjö AIK in 1998. "Stockholm was a new town for me to and you never know how well you will adjust,” she said, “but it all went very well and 1998 proved something of a breakthrough year."

'Greatest moments'
Indeed it was, and Svensson capped it by being named as the first Swedish Female Footballer of the Year. Five years later, she became the first player to receive the honour, and Diamond Ball, twice on the back of Sweden's brilliant run to the 2003 FIFA World Cup final. "The World Cup and the homecoming were perhaps the greatest moments of my career so far," she said.

'Icing on the cake'
"We didn't really know about the excitement in Sweden, and to stand in front of all the fans who greeted us in the Kungsträdgården in Stockholm was a great experience. Then to receive the Diamond Ball a second time was the icing on the cake."

'One of the girls'
Having helped turn Sweden into a global power in women's football, coaches and colleagues alike are united in thinking Svensson deserves all the praise she can get. "She's taken her game to the very highest level because she works so hard," Sweden's assistant coach Thomas Dennerby explained. "I'm just one of the girls," was Svensson's modest response. Expect the cream of Europe's defenders to take a slightly different view.