Swedish Women's National Team Faces Emotional Recovery and Uefa Eyes Qualification Format Changes

Following their heartbreaking EM loss to England in a penalty shootout, the Swedish women's national football team is in the midst of emotional and tactical recovery. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd revealed the difficulty in moving past the defeat, noting moments when she didn’t want to talk or watch her teammates. The squad recently regrouped in Marbella to prepare for the Nations League semifinal against Spain — their first meeting since the emotional loss. Players coped with the setback differently: Linda Sembrant went camping while Nathalie Björn took a vacation with her partner to disconnect mentally. Rytting Kaneryd herself also took time off with friends to relax and clear her mind. A team meeting helped them confront the loss and focus on future opportunities, though Rytting Kaneryd admitted she has not fully processed the disappointment. On the club level, balancing emotions has been tough, especially playing alongside several EM champions at Chelsea. Despite the challenges, she and Björn motivated each other to maintain a positive outlook going forward. Meanwhile, Uefa plans to revamp qualification for upcoming Euro and World Cup tournaments, possibly adopting a league-style format similar to Champions League competitions. Uefa President Aleksander Čeferin expects this system to increase competition and unpredictability. The announcement is timely, as Sweden currently struggles in its 2026 World Cup qualifying group with Switzerland, Slovenia, and Kosovo. This potential format change could impact Sweden's path in future qualifications and adds another layer to the national teams’ ongoing tactical preparation and adaptation.