Gerhardsson Opens Up on Tough Choices After Sweden's Euro 2022 Exit

Peter Gerhardsson, the outgoing head coach of the Swedish women's national football team, reflected deeply on his coaching decisions and the emotional fallout from the team's recent exit from Euro 2022. In a press conference, he specifically addressed the controversial substitution of star striker Stina Blackstenius just minutes before the end of extra time during the quarterfinal against England. Concerned with her fitness, he stated, "If there's anyone who should be making these decisions, it's me. I like to make decisions, and while they don't always turn out right, I stand by them" (Source ID: 15965).

Gerhardsson faced significant criticism regarding his choices, especially relating to penalty shootout selections. He emphasized the importance of understanding the players' mental health, noting that star player Lina Hurtig declined to take a penalty due to her struggles with similar past experiences. "Sometimes you have to take into account the human aspect, and we have done that," he remarked, highlighting the delicate balance between competition and player well-being (Source ID: 15964).

The coach revealed that 18-year-old Smilla Holmberg was chosen for the decisive penalty based on her impressive training performances, further elucidating his rationale behind these critical choices (Source ID: 15961). Gerhardsson labeled the loss to England as the most challenging moment of his career while acknowledging the team's overall performance as the best during his tenure. He expressed gratitude for the support he received from fans throughout his eight years as head coach, stating that it had been a "fantastic journey" (Source ID: 15964).