Players welcome Olympic Committee fitness demands

Several national team players have commented on the Swedish Olympic Committee's demands for better physical fitness, among them Victoria Svensson and Caroline Seger. They welcome the new tests and agrees with the statement that fitness must be improved if Sweden shall be able to compete with the best. The national team decided already last year that they need to focus more on physical fitness. The test results for the best Swedish players are at the same level as the average for the US team.

Tabloid Aftonbladet publishes an inquiry where the Damallsbvenskan coaches comments on their training schedules. Most teams have 8-10 sessions a week, which probably is as much as humanly possible, since most players are not professionals. Kopparbergs/Göteborg's Martin Pringle, who as a professional player was with Benfica and Charlton, says it's about quality, not quantity. "As a professional player I never had more than one training session a day".

Västerbottenskuriren: Caroline Seger: Bra att kraven ställs
Dagens Nyheter: "Jag kan förstå SOK:s krav"
Aftonbladet: Sveriges topp – snittet i USA
TV4 Video clip
2006-01-05 @ 12:17:52 Permalink Events Comments (0) Trackbacks ()

Team Sweden players not fit enough

Swedish national team players are not fit enough, says the Swedish Olympic Committee, one of the national team's main sponsors with a SEK 1000000 a year grant as well as individual player stipends. Physical fitness tests from the last years shows that the players are less fit than they were 2003. Both the German and the US national team players have better test results. So the SOK has decided to launch a physical fitness program. All Damallsvenskan players will undergo fitness tests twice this spring, in January and April. The national team players will recieve individual training, but all damallsvenskan players will be part of the training program. The SOK expects results, or they will reconsider their support for the team.


Sweden head coach Thomas Dennerby admits that the players needs to improve, but adds that the fitness test results will not alone decide who gets picked for the national team; "It's not all about test results. Things like technique and a good eye for the game are also important."

Dagens Nyheter: SOK hotar dra in stöd till damfotbollslandslaget
Aftonbladet: SOK: Ni är för dåligt tränade
Värmlands Folkblad: Inga pengar utan bättre flås

2006-01-04 @ 15:02:34 Permalink Events Comments (6) Trackbacks ()

Djurgården/Älvsjö's Malin Nykvist leaves

Djurgården/Älvsjö's Malin Nykvist has confirmed the rumours that she will leave the club. She is pregnant and expected to give birth in June.

Djurgården/Älvsjö: Malin minns de fyra segrarna
2006-01-04 @ 12:21:07 Permalink Events Comments (1) Trackbacks ()

Malin Andersson quits

Malmö FF and Sweden veteran Malin Andersson has decided to leave top football and focus on her career with the Swedish Road Administration, where she works as engineer and project manager. Malmö coach Jörgen Petersson says she will be hard to replace, but trying to talk her out of the decision would be futile.

Malin, who has participated in 10 major championships and played more than 150 national team matches, comments herself in an interview with a swedish radio channel, that she needs more time for herself and those close to her.

Sydsvenskan: Malin Andersson lägger av
Radiosporten: Slutspelat för MFF:s Malin Andersson
2006-01-04 @ 09:53:04 Permalink Events Comments (7) Trackbacks ()

Nike sponsors Sunnanå

Sunnanå SK and Nike has signed a 4 year sponsor deal, Nike's first with a Damallsvenskan club. Sunnanå says they are happy Nike chose them as partner to introduce the sportswear company's first ever women football collection. As usual no financial details are disclosed, but Sunnanå's management is very satisfied.

Norra Västerbotten: Sunnanå har fått ny sponsor
2006-01-03 @ 12:01:21 Permalink Events Comments (0) Trackbacks ()

Injured Öqvist still negotiating contract for 2006

Linköping FC's forward Josefine Öqvist was forced to surgery to deal with a knee injury she recieved training shortly before Christmas. Part of the meniscus was removed. Öqvist says she hopes to be training again within a month.

Öqvist is still negotiating the terms of her contract with Linköping FC, but says they are close to a deal. If not, KIF Örebro's coach Sundhage is still interested in signing Öqvist and says she is not bothered by the 22 year old's injury problems.

Corren: Öqvist meniskskadad
Damfotboll.com: Öqvist nyopererad

2005-12-31 @ 14:09:14 Permalink Events Comments (16) Trackbacks ()

Millie's back!

Sunnanå's Tiffeny Milbrett arrived at Sunnanå friday afternoon after spending the summer with the US national team and running soccer camps. She is happy to be back and enthusiastic to start playing with the team again. She's been following the team during the summer and says with a laugh "Sunnanå's done really good. They don't need me any longer". But she also reveals that she is in talks with the club about her future and she says Sunnanå is her first choice for the next year, "but it's too early to say anything yet".

Norra Västerbotten: Stjärnan tillbaka i stan

2005-08-13 @ 16:18:50 Permalink Events Comments (1) Trackbacks ()

Swedish Cup: Blow-outs and Extra-times

Seven Damallsvenskan teams played in today's five Swedish cup matches. Malmö FF and Kopparbergs/Göteborg had real blow-outs against their lower division competition while Hammarby had to go into extra-time. Malmö defeated Vittsjö GoIK away with 9-0, 7 goals by Mia Westerblad and one by Linda Blom (the last was an own goal) in front of a Vittsjö record attendance of 679 in spite of the pouring rain. Malmö's starters: Jenny Olsson - Malin Andersson, Denise Reddy, Therese Jönsson, Jenny Engwall - Anna Mörstam, Nilla Fischer (46 Therese Lundin), Therese Sjögran (46 Formiga), Frida Nordin (Corinne Briers) - Mia Westerblad, Linda Blom.

Kopparbergs/Göteborg finally got their scoring working after 3 goalless games. 12-1 at IF Böljan, 5 goals by Heidi Kackur, 4 by Rebecka Ljungdahl and onr each from Jenny Svensson, Lotta Schelin and Frida Thydén. Hammarby had more problems with 1st division side Östervåla IF and was forced to go into extra-time. Östervåla took the lead in the 21st minute. In the second half Hammarby got Tanja Meidal red-carded, but still managed to equalize and score the winner on a penalty-kick on extra-time. Both goals by Karolina Rinman.

In Örebro AIK played KIF Örebro to another extra-time decision. AIK took the lead with an early 9th minute goal by Lena Persson. Louise Östman equalised for Örebro with 10 minutes left of regulation time. Hodan Siid-Ahmed got AIK ahead again after only 3 minutes extra-time, but then Örebro managed to score three times in 15 minutes; at 100' by Camilla Ulander-Nilsson, at 111' by Marie Hammarströmm and finally Louise Östman got her second goal, making it 4-2 at 115'. In the last game Umeå defeated Sunnanå at home 3-0 with goals by Frida Östberg, Malin Moström and Maria Nordbrandt.

There will be 7 damallsvenskan sides in the quarterfinals; QBIK, Djurgården/Älvsjö, Kopparbergs/Göteborg, KIF Örebro, Umeå IK, Malmö FF and Hammarby. The only lower division team to advance was Härnösands SK. The pairings for the quarterfinels will be drawn August 11.

Damfotboll.com

2005-08-10 @ 23:42:58 Permalink Events Comments (5) Trackbacks ()

Malin Nykvist: "I'm all stressed out"

Malin Nykvist, two times champion with Djurgården/Älvsjö and making her first national team appearance in Algarve Cup this year, talks in an interview with Stockholm daily Svenska Dagbladet about her decision to take a break from football. "I've got no energy left, not in training, not at work, not in my private life. I'm all stressed out". Last year Nykvist decided to work part-time to be able to train more and make a bigger committment to her football career. But it turned out that her work still demanded a full-time effort and the pressure and expectations on her in the game didn't become any easier. "I had to take a break before my whole life came to pieces". Nykvist has not decided if this is a permanent break or if she'll come back again. "I think a lot of players risk finding themself in my situation if they're not carefull. We can't live like professional players, but we are supposed to perform like we were."

Svenska Dagbladet: Stressad Nykvist tar paus
2005-08-04 @ 21:55:06 Permalink Events Comments (10) Trackbacks ()

Damallsvenskan MVP's for the second quarter season named

The women's football magazine Nya Mål (the same people that runs the website Damfotboll.com), Damallsvenskan's main sponsor Svenska Spel and EFD, the association of women's elite football clubs, awards a trophy, The Ebba of the Year,  for "the most extraordinary and valuable performance" by a Damallsvenskan player. They have now released the results for the rounds 7 to 11:

1. Hanna Marklund, Sunnanå SK
2. Anna Sjöström, Umeå IK
3. Therese Lundin, Malmö FF
4. Stina Segerström, KIF Örebro
5. Linda Fagerström, Djurgården/Älvsjö

The top four after 11 rounds would be these:
Hanna Marklund, 7 points
Kristine Lilly, 5 points
Anna Sjöström and Therese Sjögran, 4 points

The final winner will be named at the end of the season.

Damfotboll.com

2005-08-03 @ 21:05:55 Permalink Events Comments (0) Trackbacks ()

Malin Nykvist takes time-out

Djurgården/Älvsjö reports that their experienced midfielder Malin Nykvist has decided to take a break from football for personal reasons.

Djurgården/Älvsjö

2005-08-02 @ 15:11:21 Permalink Events Comments (16) Trackbacks ()

Knee injury stops Sunnanå's Bodén

Sunnanå's and Sweden's U-19 midfielder Anna Bodén will miss the rest of the season because of a serious knee injury. Sunnanå's coach Kega Israelsson says "We will miss her, but I think it can be good for her too. Everything has been very easy for her so far in her career. Now she'll have to show that she can overcome this and grow to a full fledged national team player".
Västerbottens Folkblad: Anna Bodén borta resten av säsongen
2005-07-30 @ 18:53:38 Permalink Events Comments (1) Trackbacks ()

U21 Nordic Tournament: Last Matches

Sweden finally got a win in this youth tournament, managing to avoid last place by defeating Denmark 2-1 after being 1 goal down until the 78th minute when Stina Segerström headed in the equalizer following a corner kick and then Maria Nordbrandt scored the winner at 83'. All in all a disappointing tournament where, despite the rather poor defense, defender Stina Segerström was the one to impress.

Sweden's team: Maja Åström - Anna Paulson (72 Ann Westermark), Stina Segerström, Therése Lückner, Johanna Frisk - Maria Karlsson, Elin Ekblom, Nilla Fischer (46 Jessica Landström), Emma Stålhammar (59 Maria Nordbrandt) - Johanna Almgren, Madelaine Edlund.

In the other placement games Iceland (Erla Arnardóttir playing 90) lost the 5th place match to Finland 1-4 and Germany lost the penalty shoot-out after playing 1-1 against England, finishing 4th. Bianca Rech played 90 minutes and converted her penalty kick.

Svensk Fotboll
Damfotboll.com
Värmlands Folkblad: Näst sist - nu avgår förbundskaptenen
Västerbottens Folkblad: Nordbrandt hjälte mot Danmark

2005-07-30 @ 18:52:04 Permalink Events Comments (0) Trackbacks ()

U21 Nordic Tournament: Match Day 2 and 3

My webblogg service has been down for a couple of days, but here's a short recap.

Friday Sweden lost 1-3 to Finland. Madeleine Edlund scored 1-0 for Sweden but after that, in spite of playing good and creating opportunities, they weren't able to score. Finland scored on counters against a swedish defense that seems rather porous.

Sweden's team:  Jenny Olsson (Malmö FF) - Magdalena Esseryd (Sunnanå), Stina Segerström (KIF Örebro), Therése Lückner (QBIK), Maria Karlsson (Kopparbergs/Göteborg) - Emma Stålhammar (Malmö FF, sub 61 Maria Nordbrandt, Umeå), Elin Ekblom (Djurgården/Älvsjö), Nilla Fischer (Malmö FF), Johanna Almgren (Kopparbergs/Göteborg) - Maria Aronsson (Linköping, sub 46 Ann Westermark, Linköping), Madelaine Edlund (Sunnanå, sub 65 Jessica Landström, Hammarby)

The same day Germany played Iceland. Both Erla Arnardóttir (Mallbacken) and Bianca Rech (Sunnanå) played the full match.
Svensk Fotboll
Damfotboll.com
Värmlands Folkblad: Förlust för Sverige

Sunday yet another defeat, 1-2 against England, who had Sven-Göran Eriksson present to provide inspiration. Sweden's goal, as usual by Madeleine Edlund, came as a consolation goal in the second half. U21 head coach Helena Kihlberg Bystedt was very disappointed: "We've never lost more than one match a year in the Nordic Cup before".

Sweden's team: Maja Åström (Djurgården/Älvsjö) - Anna Paulson (Umeå), Stina Segerström (KIF Örebro), Johanna Frisk (Bälinge), Maria Karlsson (Kopparbergs/Göteborg, sub 85 Maria Aronsson, Linköping) - Johanna Almgren (Kopparbergs/Göteborg), Elin Ekblom (Djurgården/Älvsjö), Nilla Fischer (Malmö FF, sub 46 Hodan Siid-Ahmed, AIK), Maria Nordbrandt (Umeå, sub 72 Ann Westermark, Linköping)  - Emma Stålhammar (Malmö FF, sub 72 Magdalena Esseryd, Sunnanå), Jessica Landström (Hammarby, sub 37 Madelaine Edlund, Syunnanå).

Germany lost to USA 1-3 with Bianca Rech playing the full 90 while Erla Arnardóttir's Iceland defeated Denmark 4-2, Erla playing 72 minutes.
Svensk Fotboll
Damfotboll.com
Värmlands Folkblad: "Svennis" såg Sverige falla igen
Västerbottens Folkblad: Ny förlust för U21-damerna

2005-07-25 @ 22:04:18 Permalink Events Comments (0) Trackbacks ()

U21 Nordic Tournament: Day 1

Sweden lost their opener to Norway in a match where individual mistakes, lacking team-work and tired legs seemed to characterize the game in the second half. Nilla Fischer scored an early eqaulizer for Sweden after 10 minutes, but by the middle of the second half Norway, who owned the midfield, scored two fast goals deciding the 3-1 result. Sweden's line-up: Maja Åström (Djurgården/Älvsjö) - Magdalena Esseryd (Sunnanå), Anna Paulson (Umeå), Stina Segerström (KIF Örebro), Maria Karlsson (Kopparbergs/Göteborg) - Emma Stålhammar (Malmö FF - sub at 66' Johanna Almgren, Kopparbergs/Göteborg), Elin Ekblom (Djurgården/Älvsjö), Nilla Fischer (Malmö FF), Ann Westermark (Linköping, sub at 82' Hodan Siid-Ahmed, AIK) - Maria Aronsson (Linköping, sub at 76' Maria Nordbrandt, Umeå), Madelaine Edlund (Sunnanå).

Of the other Damallsvenskan players, Bianca Rech (Sunnanå) played 63 minutes in Germany's 6-0 over Denmark (it was 5-0 before Germany started making substitutions) and Erla Arnardóttir (Mallbacken) went 90 minutes in Iceland's 4-0 loss to USA.

The norwegian top side Team Strømmen's head coach Janne Jansson watched the game and as former Mallbacken coach got interviewed by the local paper. He said he was mostly there to keep an eye on his own players, but he was also looking at possible reinforcements for his club. He said he will keep an extra eye on Iceland's and Mallbacken's Erla Arnardóttir.
Tournament website
Värmlands Folkblad: Totalt överlägsna - i en kvart
Corren: LFC-duo bakom Sveriges mål i U21-match
Damfotboll.com
2005-07-21 @ 16:36:04 Permalink Events Comments (0) Trackbacks ()

Damallsvenskan players in U-21 Nordic Tournament

Sweden's team to the U-21 Nordic Tournament, that is played in Värmland (Mallbacken's and QBIK's home region), consists mostly of 1st team players from Damallsvenskan clubs. The exceptions are mainly defender Johanna Frisk from 1st division side Bälinge IF (she came in as a late sub yesterday for KIF Örebro's Sandra Linder) and Malmö's back-up keeper Jenny Olsson. All the other players have been in Damallsvenskan action this season. The league takes a break for the duration of the Nordic Tournament and the next match-day is July 28.

Not only Sweden sports Damallsvenskan players on their rosters. Mallbacken's Erla Arnardóttir will, as mentioned here earlier, play for Iceland and Sunnanå's Bianca Rech for Germany. Local daily Värmlands Folkblad has a piece on Arnardóttir, and she explains that she prefered to stay at home with the U-21's instead of going to USA with the full national team, since she'll get more good games here (four instead of one) and it is more fun to play at home with friends watching.
Värmlands Folkblad: Nobbade USA

The paper also talks to ex-Mallbacken, now QBIK player Therese Lückner, Värmlands only contribution to the U-21 team. Both she and U-21 coach Helena Kihlberg-Bystedt thinks the opener against Norway will be deciding for Sweden's fate in the tournament.
Värmlands Folkblad: Mot första fullträffen
2005-07-20 @ 16:05:02 Permalink Events Comments (0) Trackbacks ()

Erla Arnardóttir says no to USA match

Mallbacken's influental midfielder Erla Arnardóttir was nominated for Iceland's national team to play USA in a friendly in California next weekend. Erla asked to be allowed to play the Nordic Tournament with Iceland's U21 side instead. This way she can stay at home (the tournament is played in Mallabcken's Värmland region) and her club is probably happy not to have her go back and forth over the Atlantic in less than a week.

Damfotboll.com
2005-07-18 @ 11:38:46 Permalink Events Comments (0) Trackbacks ()

Djurgården/Älvsjö's Venus James called up to US national team

Djurgården/Älvsjö's attacking midfielder Venus James has been called up to the US national team's camp July 17-24, with a friendly against Iceland the 24th. If James gets to play it will be her first for the national team.

Sunnanå's Tiffeny Milbrett is also in the squad and has already played two matches this summer, getting her 200th national team match and 100th national team goal.

Ussoccer.com
2005-07-14 @ 22:04:29 Permalink Events Comments (1) Trackbacks ()

Rantanen moving from midfield to defense

Linköpings FC has tried out their midfielder Anna-Kaisa Rantanen at the left back position for a couple of matches and it has worked out so well, that coach Mikael Bornehav has decided to make it permanent. "We needed to improve our passes from the left side and she's been really good, especially in the offense".
Corren: Rantanen fortsätter som vänsterback i LFC
2005-07-09 @ 12:43:47 Permalink Events Comments (1) Trackbacks ()

Jessica Julin looking forward to play

Jessica Julin recently transfered from Umeå IK to Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC and will make her debut for the west swedish club in the match against Sunnanå today. In interviews with local papers she says she's really looking forward to be a starter again. "Football is what I know. I think I'm pretty good at it and I don't belong on the bench". She says she will miss the players, the professionality, the organisation and the fans in Umeå.But Göteborg is a much bigger and much more interesting town and she'll get to play with her good friend Heidi Kackur. Since most of the players in Göteborg are amateurs, training sessions are early morning or late afternoon: "I'm not used to that, but it won't be any problem", Julin says. She is very optimistic over the club's future and thinks it looks like the finnish national team a lot - a lot of potential and dedication to improve.
Göteborgsposten: Dags för Julins debut
Expressen: "Jag ska visa mycket sisu i min nya klubb"
2005-07-09 @ 12:38:02 Permalink Events Comments (0) Trackbacks ()

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