39-year-old cage keeper Hedvig Lindahl has been in the national team since 2005. When Sweden went out in the European Championship (0-4 in the semi-finals against England), she had a difficult evening and then directed criticism at herself.
Now Lindahl has discussed his blue-and-yellow role with national team captain Peter Gerhardsson.
She may invest further, but no longer seems to be the first choice in the finish.
- Now I am ending the investment that I have always had, towards being the first goalkeeper.
If I still get to play, it's fun, but there's a little less mental pressure on myself, and that's quite nice.
There will be a few more weekends off, to be with the family, and as a result maybe play better in the women's league, because I have more energy, she tells Dagens Nyheter.
Lindahl now plays in Djurgården.
She is listed for 189 international matches.
Maybe it won't be.
- I think I have to be kind to myself and realize that sometimes I need to rest my body and my soul.
Maybe I can't have high ambitions and be first choice in the national team, because I don't really have the capacity for that anymore, I think.
Or, maybe I have, but I see advantages in getting more rest, she says.
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Lindahl: "I've been talking about quitting since 2009"