Swedish World Cup roster drops without requiring further assembly

With the majority of the squad for the World Cup all but confirmed (save for three or four), Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson took the unorthodox route of not telling any of his players whether they had made the cut or not.

The news broadcast live on Swedish TV, leaving the five or six players who could have squeezed in staring at their screens, hoping to see their faces pop up and name called. Some had a longer wait than others.

Whilst the likes of Linköping pair Filipa Angeldahl and Anna Oskarsson might have already suspected they weren’t on the plane, players like Mia Carlsson, Hanna Folkesson, and Emma Holmgren would have been left surprised after their recent inclusions.

The main point of note is how barren the Swedish midfield has been left, the spine expected to remain intact throughout the lengthy tournament without rotation, while both the defence and attack are overflowing with back-up options.

Goalkeepers: Hedvig Lindahl (Chelsea), Zećira Mušović (FC Rosengård), Jennifer Falk (Kopparbergs/Göteborg).

Defenders: Nilla Fischer (VfL Wolfsburg), Linda Sembrant (Montpellier HSC), Magdalena Eriksson (Chelsea), Amanda Ilestedt (Turbine Potsdam), Hanna Glas (Paris Saint-Germain), Jonna Andersson (Chelsea), Nathalie Björn (FC Rosengård).

Midfielders: Caroline Seger (FC Rosengård), Elin Rubensson (Kopparbergs/Göteborg), Julia Roddar (Kopparbergs/Göteborg), Oliva Schough (Djurgården).

Attackers: Kosovare Asllani (Linköping), Stina Blackstenius (Linköping), Sofia Jakobsson (Montpellier HSC), Fridolina Rolfö (Bayern München), Anna Anvegård (Växjö), Lina Hurtig (Linköping), Julia Zigiotti-Olme (Kopparbergs/Göteborg), Madelen Janogy (Piteå), Mimmi Larsson (Linköping).