Blackstenius appointed captain as Rytting Kaneryd remains doubtful for Sweden qualifiers

The regular captain Kosovare Asllani faces cruciate ligament surgery, while deputy captain Nathalie Bjorn is also sidelined for the qualifiers due to injury.

Coach Tony Gustavsson has assigned the captains armband to 30 year old Blackstenius for the home encounters with Denmark in Gothenburg on 14 April and Serbia in Solna four days after that.

Gustavsson described Blackstenius as a highly experienced athlete who understands the significance of crucial games and remains consistent in her approach both during matches and outside them.

This experience faces a challenge after Sweden kicked off their qualification effort with a 1 0 victory away to Italy, followed by a tough 0 0 draw against Serbia. Placed second in Group A1, Sweden seeks to claim points on home soil, particularly versus league leading Denmark, to secure direct qualification.

In the national setup, leadership burdens are shared rather than resting on a single individual. Gustavsson favours designating a leader for each of the four key positions on the pitch, which simplifies selecting the official captain.

The coach notes that the armband holder in any game is the one with the greatest number of international appearances. Blackstenius has accumulated 125 caps up to now.

Challenges persist in ensuring top players stay healthy, though. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd has linked up with the group but skipped training sessions because of a calf injury that ruled her out of Chelses recent fixtures.

Gustavsson indicated that updates suggest her condition is evaluated daily at present. As the fixtures approach and a verdict emerges, the medical staff will brief him, leading to a choice on whether to substitute her in the lineup or allow her a place among the reserves.

If the forward sits out, the Blue Yellows will rely on merely five players boasting 50 or more caps for these vital qualifiers.