Malin Fransson: The captain of the women’s crowns countrywide team plays a superior activity

When Women’s Crowns national crew captain Ulf Lundberg offered his squad in the WC, it was the names that were missing – Olympic players Johanna Fällman, Emma Nordin and Lisa Johansson and goalkeeper Sara Grahn – that captivated the most. Notice.

Collectively, these four players have several hundred global matches on their benefit checklist and a excellent league regime.

At the identical time, these are gamers who are unlikely to be relevant to the 2026 Olympics. But will it actually make a difference in a championship that will be made a decision in 2022? Should not you usually enjoy with the greatest crew?

Spontaneously, most men and women probably respond to “sure” to the past question. A championship is an exam, not a lesson.

But when it will come to Swedish women’s hockey, number of concerns have straightforward solutions.

When the queen’s crowns in the late spring of 2019, the A-WC fell out of favor – and the subsequent year’s pandemic struck and ended each the B-WC and junior championships – meant the loss of quite a few several years of advancement.

Some thing that was observed for the duration of the Beijing Olympic match in February.

When the rate was picked up on Olympic ice, gamers who had shone at property in SDHL that same season experienced a tricky time holding up.

Which in itself wasn’t that unusual.

The distinctions amongst SDHL matches and intercontinental matches are large, and in advance of the Olympics numerous of the younger players in the Women’s Crowns hadn’t even performed schooling matches in opposition to truly excellent teams.

But the intriguing factor is that already all through the match – with the exception of the quarter-remaining match versus Canada – you could truly see sport-by-recreation improvement.

A thing that emphasizes that the only way to master something is to do it.

Soon after the black evening a long time for Swedish women’s hockey, a lengthy-term method is the only sustainable selection.

Many young gamers have to have to acquire worldwide working experience to notice what they want to operate on before the 2026 Milan Olympics.

With this as a backdrop, the World Cup in Denmark for women’s crowns is much more of a lesson than an test.

But then there was the point that matters are by no means simple.

There are not only things to win in the Earth Cup – where by Sweden will perform their group games in Fredrikshamn – but also anything to get rid of.

Sweden bought their place in this year’s A-WC many thanks to Russia not becoming welcome thanks to the war in Ukraine.

Nevertheless, that seat isn’t really guaranteed for many several years to arrive.

The lowest rated staff in the Globe Cup in Denmark will be moved to Entire world Cup B up coming calendar year. If it were to materialize once more for Sweden, it would be a catastrophe.

Now it goes to they assert that this hazard is, if not non-existent, at minimum minimal since both Denmark and Hungary are even worse than Sweden.

But the experiences of a cold skating rink in Espoo in the spring of 2019 – when a Swedish nationwide ice hockey staff for the very first time in historical past arrived out of an A-WC – signify that I am now organized for even the impossible when I publish. on female crowns.

In the course of the Olympics, Sweden had tremendous issues scoring targets. Women’s crowns were being the minimum efficient group in the event, China was also superior.

With this as a backdrop, the worst teams want neither to impress nor to perform fantastic against Sweden. It might be adequate for them to score a intention.

So confederation captain Lundberg chooses a way to participate in a superior recreation in his will to create for the long run.

Now in the initially match on Thursday night, we have a obvious sign of whether it was the suitable strategy. A Swedish victory in opposition to host place Denmark is a should.

Or else, the World Cup could develop into a worthwhile lesson, if potentially necessary.

Read through additional:

Bouveng wants to facial area Canada – in spite of Olympic crush: “It was instructive”

Manual: Women’s crowns make a comeback

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