Lindahl cool under fire
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Article summary
Sweden are one of the last two teams to begin and goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl is raring to face Russia, telling uefa.com her side "have a solution" for their long winless run in opening finals games.
Article top media content
Article body
Sweden coach Thomas Dennerby had his entire squad gathered around one of the penalty areas as he made final preparations for their first UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ Group C game against Russia. As crosses were fed into the box, the forwards rained shots down on the goal. "The forwards look sharp," goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl told uefa.com after the session, adding with a grin: "And so do the goalkeepers."
First choice
On a sun-drenched training pitch next to the Turku Stadium, the 26-year-old took turns with fellow keepers Kristin Hammarström and Ulla-Karin Rönnlund to face the onslaught. Lindahl is certain to be Dennerby's first choice in goal against Russia on Tuesday, as she has been for the past four years.
Watching brief
Along with the rest of the squad, Lindahl was at the ground to witness the Netherlands' 2-0 defeat of Ukraine in Group A on Sunday, which whet her own competitive appetite. "It's exciting that the matches have started," she said. "It makes me want to begin the tournament and go out and play."
Opening losses
However, for Sweden, opening matches in major tournaments are not often the cause for much jubilation. The last time they won an opening fixture was at the 1997 UEFA European Women's Championship, long before Lindahl's own international career got underway with a debut appearance against England in 2002. Their run of frustrating starts since then has encompassed two continental final tournaments, three FIFA Women's World Cups and three Olympic Games.
Solution found
This time Sweden hope to prove they are over their opening-day jinx. "We've discussed it in the group and I think we have a solution for it," Lindahl added. "Hopefully we won't lose the game because of us being nervous. If we lose, it should be because we play a better team on the day. But I think on a good day we should beat Russia."
Lucky omen?
History is not entirely against Sweden as they step out onto the Turku pitch on Tuesday, however. Twelve years ago, when on home soil Sweden last recorded a win in a championship opener, the opponents were also Russia.
