Two starts and two goals were Olivia Schough's result after the last national team gathering.

In the directly decisive match against Iceland, the midfielder stood for a real dream goal that meant 2-0 and in principle secured Swedish advancement to the European Championships in England 2022.

- It feels wonderful.

It has been a good camp for me and I have felt in good shape.

I had to score twice as well and that is not the norm (Schough's tenth and eleventh goal in the national team, editor's note).

So I can not be more than happy, says Olivia Schough when SVT Sport meets the 29-year-old on Stadshagen's IP.

"Then I realized I needed to step up"

For a long time, Schough has struggled with playing time in blue and yellow.

It has often been about shorter innings with little sporting impact.

Despite this, her presence in the national team has always been highlighted as a mood booster and as an important part of the group.

Now, however, the national team captain Peter Gerhardsson seems to have gained more confidence in the Djurgård player who got to start in both matches in the latest collection.

- I had a period many years ago when I played a lot.

Then when Peter (Gerhardsson) took over, it became a slightly different leadership and new players that meant greater competition, which is great.

But where I was not in my thoughts.

Then I also realized that I needed to step up and Peter was clear about that.

I took it upon myself and have worked really hard with it and it has given results both in Djurgården and now also in the national team, says Schough.

"We all play for our existence"

In the club team, after securing the contract in the final round last year, they once again have the knife to the throat with three matches left.

Now three meetings await with bottom competitors in the form of Eskilstuna (20 points), Umeå (19 points) and Uppsala (10 points) where Djurgården (20 points) has its survival entirely in its own hands.

- It will be incredibly fun actually.

Hugely important matches for all of us down there so it will be a hell of a fight.

I hope that the whole team is prepared for that, to just tear the iron now, because it will be tough.

We all play for our existence but at the same time it's fun that it means something.

What do you think you can take with you, after just being and securing a European Championship advancement, into the final sprint?

- There are contrasts if you say so.

But now I am here and I will do everything I can to spread as good a feeling as possible in the team.

They have struggled here at home now during the national team break and I do not always know that is great fun.

But I will just try to spread a good atmosphere so that we are ready for the last three matches, Olivia Schough concludes

Djurgården meets Eskilstuna tomorrow Sunday with kick-off 13:30.

CLIP: See Scough's dream goal against Iceland (27 Oct 2020)

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Sweden is ready for the European Championships.

Photo: Bildbuyrån