Tony Gustavsson's first match as coach of the Swedish women's national football team ended in a heavy defeat against Spain. The world number one won 4-0 in the Nations League semifinal in Málaga. It was Sweden's biggest loss in three years.
The match in Málaga marked the start of Tony Gustavsson's tenure as coach of the Swedish women's national team. Spain, ranked as world number one, dominated from the outset and led 3-0 at halftime. Despite a stronger Swedish performance in the second half, it ended 4-0 to the home team, creating a steep uphill battle for Sweden ahead of the Nations League semifinal return leg.
Several individual mistakes lay behind the Swedish collapse. Gustavsson expressed his disappointment after the match: 'It hurts.' Center-back Amanda Ilestedt agreed, saying: 'It's clear that we wished it could be better.' The loss is the biggest for Sweden in three years and highlights the challenges of facing a top team like Spain in a demanding tournament.
Despite the result, there are lessons to take forward. Gustavsson's debut points to the need for defensive improvements, but the team still has a chance to turn things around in the next meeting.