A surprise starter against Germany, the 18 -year -old Swedish right back Smilla Holmberg did a lot by marking the winner in the 25th minute, while keeping the lively winger of Germany Klara Buhl from a distance. The Hammarby player, who appeared to be a substitute in other group matches, could well upset the hierarchy before facing England in the quarter -finals.
“Smilla, Smilla, Smilla.” After only four caps for the Swedish national team, the 18 -year -old Hammarby Flanker already had his own song of the yellow wall mass behind the goal of Jennifer Falk.
On her right flank, Holmberg has succeeded in everything she tried: dribble, divide the ball, hit and burst forward, so much so that poor Sarai Linder was completely outdated and asked Buhl, although he was an attacker, to come and help him. In fact, she only needed 25 minutes to score her first goal for the Blagult, who put Sweden forward for the first time.
“”I received the “Nattis” balloon (Nathalie Bjorn) and I saw that there was a lot of space to accelerate, “ said Holmberg in the mixed area, who suddenly became the player to whom all journalists want to speak after the complete victory of Sweden 4-1.
The goal made her the second largest scorer in the history of the Euro in Sweden, at 18 and 274 days.
“It is difficult to manage so many emotions. This is what I dreamed of when I looked at the national team at home on my sofa”, “ Smiles the player who had become the star of the evening.
A first far from his family
Amanda Zaza, Swedish journalist for AFTONBLADETwas not surprised: “I was rather impressed that she managed to reproduce what she is doing all the season in the Swedish championship against one of the best nations in the world. This speaks volumes about her character and explains why she progressed so quickly in the national team.”
Before being called for this Euro in Switzerland, Holmberg had only been called for a meeting with the Senior Swedish team, after spending the season with those under 19.
As she studied for her exams, Hammarby number 31 made her first appearance for Sweden in a 0-0 draw with Italy in the League of Nations on May 30.
“”Seeing her in euros was not so surprising, because the other Swedish rear are not up to her level or are injured, “ Zaza comments.
Holmberg herself told the local press that she was “Totally shocked” When she learned that she was one of the 23 lucky people.
“”This is the first time that I have been far from my family for so long, “ commented the native of Stockholm when he arrived at the Swedish Clairefontaine.
To compensate for this, his whole family went to Switzerland, including his grandfather and grandmother. As for his brother, he likes to collect national team jerseys, like the one Madelen Janogy brought against Germany.
And when she is not with her family, Smilla plays Fortnite on the PlayStation that she brought back to Cham – the Swedish base camp.
“”On the ground, he is a very relaxed person, his feet firmly on the ground, he is a charming person, “ Nadia Nadim comments, the Danish international who played with her for three months in Hammarby.
A “super fast” player courted
On the ground, the attacker describes Holmberg as a “super fast” great-back: “She really impressed me because she is able to maintain a high intensity for 90 minutes, something I have not often seen in women’s football. She is very talented, defensive and offensively, always ready to learn and in training, she always gives 100%.”
She also knows how to mark, which caught the attention of her coach Peter Gerhardsson before calling her. In 2023, she even received the Prize for the Swedish Football Association for the most beautiful goal of the year, for a “Golazo” scored with those under 23 against Iceland.
In the meantime, she had made her professional debut with Alvsjo Aik at the age of 16, although he was a Hammarby product, which she joined the following season.
The same summer, she was invited to visit the installations of Lyon and to train with the professional team for a few sessions, to have an idea of a big club. This is a stage that the 18 -year -old woman, who will be 19 years old in October, should not be slow to cross, given her potential.
“”She may be young, but she has already made her mark in the national team, “ Said Zaza, who expects her to leave the Swedish league: “I’m sure there are clubs that queue to sign it.
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(Tagstotranslate) Football (T) Euro Women (T) Smilla Holmberg (T) Sweden W (T) Hammarby W (T) Germany W (T) Global (T) Sweden