Sweden's Öqvist announces international retirement
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Article summary
Sweden and Montpellier Hérault SC forward Josefine Öqvist has retired from international football with 80 caps aged 31, citing a desire to spend more time with her family.
Article top media content
Article body
Sweden's Josefine Öqvist has retired from international football aged 31.
The Montpellier Hérault SC forward said in a statement: ”It has been an honour to represent Sweden and I will really miss it. But I have my daughter Stella now and she is the most important thing to me."
Öqvist burst onto the international scene during the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup, where as a late substitute she struck an 86th-minute winner in the semi-final against Canada, although she did not play in the subsequent final defeat by Germany.
She was in the team that took World Cup bronze in 2011 and was named in the squad of UEFA Women's EURO 2013, where Sweden fell to eventual champions Germany in the semi-finals. Öqvist bows out with 80 caps and 20 goals.
