Before the Olympics in Tokyo last year, the national team captain Peter Gerhardsson chose to put Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, 25, out of the squad.
But after a strong spring in the club team Häcken, and more playing time in the national team, the 25-year-old received the news yesterday that she has been selected for this summer's European Championship squad.
- It is an incredible relief of course.
I was thrilled.
It is a dream come true to play for Sweden in a championship.
An incredible joy, I can not really understand it yet, she says to SVT.
"Worked incredibly hard"
After the announcement last year, Rytting Kaneryd has had this summer's European Championships in England as the big goal.
- It has been up and down.
I have worked incredibly hard to reach where I am today.
I got off to a good start this year, thanks in large part to the hard work I put in.
It has been many hours in the gym and abrasive with finishes.
It feels good to receive a receipt that it has given results.
What are your goals and hopes for your own part this summer?
- It's hard to say now but of course I hope I get the chance to show myself and help the team.
As long as I do what I can and what I am good at, I hope to be able to contribute.
We'll see but it will just be incredibly fun to be part of this journey.
"Tough resistance"
Blue-yellow will be played this summer against the Netherlands, Switzerland and Portugal.
- It is tough resistance.
It feels like the Netherlands are the best team on paper, but you never know.
There is probably no team you can go out and think it will be easy.