Sweden plays its last World Cup qualifying match against Finland tonight and as a group is already ready for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next year.
But despite the fact that the Swedish gold dreams were crushed in the EC this summer, one of the national team's most meritorious players thinks that this should not deter from new gold thoughts.
- We are ranked as one of the best teams in the world, we have to get used to being favourites.
We were one of the favorites for the gold, even though here in Sweden we were hyped as the only gold team, there were five teams that were intended gold favorites and we were one of them, says Asllani and continues his reasoning:
- We want to be there and fight for the gold in the WC as well, so I don't think we should hold back our ambitions for the gold.
"Good job union"
As part of the World Cup preparations, Sweden is pitted against Spain away, France at home and Australia away, during the upcoming autumn gatherings.
- It is precisely this kind of opposition, such capable teams as Spain and France, that we need to face to see where we stand, says Asllani, who also notes that she has never faced Spain in a national team context.
- It's still crazy.
I have never met them, I don't think anyone in the national team has, and then you have played in the national team for 12 years anyway.
So it will be very exciting to play against them, so well done to the association for arranging such good opposition before the WC.
The WC qualifier against Finland is broadcast on SVT2 at 17.55 tonight.