Jönsson retires from Sweden team

Sweden goalkeeper Caroline Jönsson has retired from international football with immediate effect after opting to continue her club career in the United States.

Jönsson departure
Jönsson and former Sweden captain Frida Östberg have signed for Chicago Red Stars in the new Women's Professional Soccer league (WPS), and the 31-year-old former LdB FC Malmö goalkeeper – the first choice for her country since 2000 – has informed national coach Thomas Dennerby that she is to bow out after winning 80 caps. She was part of the Sweden team that reached the 2001 UEFA European Women's Championship and 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup finals, losing 1-0 to Germany on both occasions, and is one of several stalwarts to bow out of the squad since the end of UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ qualifying, alongside Östberg and Hanna Ljungberg.

England movers
Her understudy Hedvig Lindahl is the front-runner to succeed Jönsson as regular No1, with Sweden next in action in the Algarve Cup from 4-11 March. One of Sweden's group opponents in UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ Group C in August, England, will have several players involved in the WPS but all are thought to have release clauses in their contracts for pre-tournament friendlies and the finals themselves. Alex Scott has signed for Boston Breakers, with Kelly Smith tipped to join her, and a third Arsenal LFC player, Karen Carney, will be at Chicago alongside Jönsson and Östberg. Chelsea LFC duo Eniola Aluko and Anita Asante have also been drafted by St Louis Athletica and Sky Blue FC of New York/New Jersey respectively, though are yet to officially sign.