Sweden's Women's Floorball Team Faces Historic Setback, Coach Linn Lundström Under Fire

The Swedish women's floorball team experienced an unprecedented setback at the 30th World Championship, finishing fourth and missing out on a medal for the first time in history. Usually dominant and often securing gold, Sweden lost crucial matches including a 6-3 semifinal defeat to Switzerland and a 6-4 loss in the bronze medal game against Finland.

Coach Linn Lundström expressed deep disappointment over the team's performance. "I feel terrible right now. We are super disappointed, especially for our fantastic players who we evidently did not manage to prepare properly," she said. Lundström acknowledged tactical shortcomings in the semifinal, admitting, "We did not reach the level and it became painfully clear there."

The tournament exposed internal distractions and issues within the team dynamics, which Lundström noted affected their overall performance during the championship, though she refrained from detailing these internal problems. With only three wins in six matches, the team reached a record low.

The disappointing outcomes have led to intense criticism of Lundström's leadership and tactical approach. In response to calls for her resignation, she stated, "It's disappointing to hear, but I understand it. I am the main responsible person, so a lot of blame falls on me." Lundström defended her coaching staff and expressed openness to a thorough review of the team’s strategies and performance moving forward.

As Sweden returns home from the championship, the spotlight remains on Lundström's future as head coach and the urgent need for evaluation and restructuring to reclaim the team's historically strong position in international floorball.

Switzerland clinched the gold medal by defeating the Czech Republic 2-0 in the finals, marking a shift in dominance in women’s floorball. Sweden's unexpected fall from medal contention has sparked broad reflection within Swedish floorball circles about the path forward.