2011 Women's World Cup Preview - Sweden

Jun 25, 2011 - 9:52 PM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Of the seven countries to qualify for each FIFA Women's World Cup, Sweden is the most notable without a title.

Although Brazil has emerged over the last two tournaments as another team that could compete for that unwanted label, the Swedes have been one of world's top sides since the event started in 1991.

Sweden advanced to the quarterfinals of the first four tournaments, made it to the semifinals twice, and finished runner-up to Germany in 2003.

Before the World Cup era, Sweden won the Euro 1984 crown, then advanced to the semifinals in five of the next six European championships it qualified for and finished second three times, in 1987, 1995, 2001.

The two most recent of those runner-up finishes were in Germany, which won the tournament both times and has won eight of the nine Euro finals since 1989.

But for Sweden, the 2011 World Cup in Germany could be a turning point in the storied history of the women's team.

Sweden was eliminated after the group stage for the first time the last World cup in 2007, and only advanced to the quarterfinals of the last Euro finals in 2009.

The 2013 Euro finals will provide Sweden its best chance to end its long title drought, as it hosts the event, but a poor showing this summer will leave more doubt about the future direction of the team.

"We've arguably not done as well as we wanted in tournaments," Sweden captain Caroline Seger told FIFA.com. "We're a good team and we know we can do better.

"We've played together for a while now, so going to big tournaments shouldn't be an issue. But it's getting tougher and tougher, and I think we Swedes need to step up our efforts.

"Sweden always has a good team, but if we could just shift up another gear, we could certainly be right at the top."

Gone are Swedish legends Victoria Svensson and Hanna Ljungberg, who helped the country reach the final in 2003, a 2-1 golden goal loss to Germany, and coach Thomas Dennerby knows the team is entering a crucial stage in its history.

"After a few difficult years in Swedish football," Dennerby told FIFA, "I hope we're back on the right track.

"At major tournaments like European Championships, World Cups and even the Olympic Games, you have to be playing at your very peak to stand any chance of winning the title."

Seger, Charlotte Rohlin and Lotta Schelin, who left a lasting image from China four years ago as she cried uncontrollably on the field after Sweden failed to advance, are now expected to carry the load.

Dennerby acknowledged "we now have a new generation," but a generation he said "is the best national team we've ever had."

Experienced midfielder Therese Sjogran and defender Sara Larsson, who plays on the club level in United States in Women's Professional Soccer with Seger, are more key players for Dennerby's side.

Sweden is once again paired with the United States, marking the fourth time in the six World Cup tournaments the countries have faced off in group play. With losses in the previous three meetings, Sweden could make an early statement in Germany.

But as Seger admitted "all the teams going to the World Cup right now are good teams" and Group C matches against Colombia on June 28 and North Korea on July 2 will just as big as the July 6 clash with the U.S. if Sweden hopes to return to knockout play.

Sweden cruised through its European qualifying group, capturing seven of eight matches with a 0-0 draw against the Czech Republic the only blemish. From that point, Sweden defeated Denmark on aggregate, 4-3, to clinch a berth in the Cup this summer.

Dennerby believes "we can look back on this as our best year in a long time," but also knows it's the results in Germany that really matter.

PAST ACHIEVEMENTS:

-- FIFA World Cup qualifier: 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011.

-- FIFA World Cup second: 2003.

-- FIFA World Cup third: 1991.