Returning to their native surroundings with a creditable point from Wembley Stadium following a promising performance against defending EURO Champions England, Sweden manager Peter Gerhardsson named an unchanged XI for the visit of the formidable French in Göteborg. 

Following a 1-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland on Friday-courtesy of Marie-Antoinette Katoto’s 6th-minute match-winner at the home of Metz- the talismanic Paris Saint-Germain striker unusually found herself sitting on the substitutes’ bench, as Eugénie Le Sommer was preferred by Hervé Renard. Captain Wendie Renard and Selma Bacha also returned to Les Bleues’ starting team sheet in place of Ève Périsset and Sakina Karchaoui. 

SWE: Falk; Lundkvist, Sembrant, Eriksson, Andersson; Angeldahl, Asllani, Olme; Rolfö, Blackstenius, Kaneryd 

FRA: Peyraud-Magnin; Dali, Bathy, Lakrar, Renard, Bacha; Cascarino, Geyoro, Toletti; Le Sommer, Diani 

Ominously for the hosts, France had ended on the losing side in one of their last 19 competitive matches, and unsurprisingly began on an attacking front boot in Göteborg as Le Sommer and Delphine Cascarino fired efforts wide of the mark inside the opening four minutes. 

The latter then forced Jennifer Falk into the first save of the match not long after, as the Swedish stop-stopper smartly kept the scoreline goalless. In response, Gerhardsson’s side were made to patiently await their attempt to call spectating French keeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin into action as Magdalena Eriksson saw her effort comfortably dealt with after 35 minutes. 

Blågult’s goal-saviour at Wembley on Friday, Fridolina Rolfö, would force another save from Peyraud-Magnin in stoppage-time at the end of the opening 45 minutes, as both nations returned to their respective dressing rooms with everything left to play for. 

Having not tasted defeat on their footballing palates in three matches across all competitions, Sweden needed very little time to see the first sight of a goal in the second half, as another effort from Eriksson saw Peyraud-Magnin make a second save. Almost immediately, France stormed up the pitch with their respective attempt on goal, as Vicki Bècho brought an equally-as-good save from Falk. 

Amid a double change from both nations that saw Elin Rubensson, Rosa Kafaji, Katoto and Karchaoui all enter the fray – France’s substitutes ultimately played a big part in the eventual match-winner. Karchaoui’s lofted ball into the area was headed back towards goal by Katoto allowing the returning captain Renard to powerfully fire the ball beyond Falk – with only nine minutes left of regular time. 

Despite having Bècho sent off deep into stoppage time for a second yellow card, France remained in control to maintain an unblemished start to their 2025 UEFA Women’s European Championship qualification campaign. Meanwhile, Sweden remain at the foot of Group 3 after accumulating only a solitary point across the opening two matches.

The victory on the road sees France climb to the top of group standings, as their winning tally climbs to six points. Sweden now occupy third position in the standings, as their single point sees them trail England by a tally of three.