PREVIEW: 2014 Football European Championships – Team Sweden
Sweden Head Coach Patrik Lundqvist has been putting together a formidable roster
Everyday this week AFI will be bringing you an introduction to each country represented in this year’s 2014 Eat the Ball Football European Championship taking place in Austria from May 30th to June 7th. Game venues in the preliminary round will include Graz and St. Poelten, while the final games of the championship will be held at the Ernst Happel- Stadium in Vienna.
Today:
SWEDEN
via SAFF
The Three Crowns Team has been at the top of Europe only once in 2005. At the last European Championship in 2010, the Swedes succumbed to Austria for the bronze. As the next host country of the 2015 Stockholm World Championships, Sweden automatically qualifies for the 2015 World Cup.Nevertheless, Team Sweden and Sweden Head Coach Patrik Lundqvist have been putting together a formidable roster. Lundqvist and his coaching staff chose a 45-man squad that are sure to represent their country strongly in the 2014 European Championships in Austria.
THE DETAILS
The 2014 European Championships are from May 30th to June 7th in Austria. There will be 2 groups of 3 teams each. Sweden plays in Group A with Germany and Finland. The winners of each group advance to the final in Vienna. The three best teams, regardless of the Swedish position, qualify for the World Cup Stockholm 2015.
Sunday, June 1, at 16.00 Finland vs Sweden
Tuesday, June 3, at 19:00 Sweden vs Germany
PLAYERS TO WATCH
The squad includes three of the sport’s more prominent players in recent years. One of the least surprising names, for example, the 2013 Player of the Year in the Super Series, Johan Stål from Orebro Black Knights. Stål is one of the most experienced in the Swedish Championship squad and he was with the team back in 2007 for the American Football World Cup in Japan. The results which were admittedly modest, but the experience from a major championship is just is very important in the crunch.
Along with Stål, WR Fredrik Isaksson (Carlstad Crusaders), has been one of the leading pass receivers in the country in recent years. In the latest international friendly against France, Isaksson led all Swedish receivers with 12 receptions for 204 yards and three touchdowns. After Isaksson in the International was Stål with 5 receptions for 71 yards and one touchdown.
On the other side of the ball on coach Lundqvist’s defense is one of Sweden SuperSeriesen best tacklers, linebacker Markus Westman (Tyreso Royal Crowns). Markus, along with his brother, Pontus Westman who is also on the squad, has been a rock on the Tyresö defense lineup in recent years. In 2013 this defense only conceded 56 points all season in the SuperSeriesen, and less than one touchdown per game!
SWEDEN 45 MAN ROSTER
| Name | Club | Position | YOB |
| Anders Hermodsson | Carlstad Crusaders | QB | 1989 |
| Philip Juhlin | Kristianstad Predators | QB | 1991 |
| Christian Forsman | Carlstad Crusaders | RB | 1983 |
| Sebastian Gauthier | Västerås Roedeers | RB | 1991 |
| Jonathan Wikström | Uppsala 86ers | RB | 1991 |
| Fredrik Isaksson | Carlstad Crusaders | WR | 1989 |
| Jesper Hermodsson | STU Northside Bulls | WR | 1987 |
| Amat Jobe | Uppsala 86ers | WR | 1989 |
| Per Lindelöf | Tyresö Royal Crowns | WR | 1987 |
| Johan Stål | Örebro Black Knights | WR | 1984 |
| Marcus Johnsson | Kristianstad Predators | WR | 1991 |
| Fredrik Eklund | Limhamn Griffins | WR | 1983 |
| Sebastian Albinsson | STU Northside Bulls | WR | 1993 |
| Olle Norberg | Stockholm Mean Machines | OL | 1989 |
| Daniel Holmgren | Carlstad Crusaders | OL | 1985 |
| Sebastian Nilsson | Örebro Black Knights | OL | 1993 |
| Marcus Lind | Tyresö Royal Crowns | OL | 1987 |
| Daniel Söderberg | Uppsala 86ers | OL | 1986 |
| Rickard Ovsiannikov | Uppsala 86ers | OL | 1987 |
| Nicklas Johansson | Carlstad Crusaders | OL | 1991 |
| Ola Kimrin | FA | K | 1972 |
| John Lannefors | STU Northside Bulls | DL | 1989 |
| Simon Nilsson | Kristianstad Predators | DL | 1987 |
| Henrik Green | Uppsala 86ers | DL | 1973 |
| Marco Gudding | Carlstad Crusaders | DL | 1989 |
| David Strobel | Limhamn Griffins | DL | 1994 |
| Alexi Nyström | Örebro Black Knights | DL | 1992 |
| Pontus Westman | Tyresö Royal Crowns | LB | 1991 |
| Markus Westman | Tyresö Royal Crowns | LB | 1991 |
| NY! Joshua Akena | Uppsala 86ers | LB | 1992 |
| Oliver Persson | Limhamn Griffins | LB | 1992 |
| Robin Prevolnik | Uppsala 86ers | LB | 1990 |
| NY! Filip Jönsson | Örebro Black Knights | LB | 1990 |
| Rikard Robbins | Västerås Roedeers | DB | 1989 |
| Marcus Christensson | Limhamn Griffins | DB | 1987 |
| Philip Minja | Tyresö Royal Crowns | DB | 1987 |
| Lamin Saho | Tyresö Royal Crowns | DB | 1986 |
| Christoffer Dessezar | Uppsala 86ers | DB | 1987 |
| Olof Eriksson | Carlstad Crusaders | DB | 1989 |
| Kristoffer Folkstrand | Limhamn Griffins | DB | 1987 |
| Marlon Escobar | Västerås Roedeers | DB | 1994 |
| Oscar Söderberg | Uppsala 86ers | DB | 1994 |
| Anton Bengtsson | STU Northside Bulls | DB | 1993 |
COACHING STAFF
| Coach | Patrik Lundqvist | Head Coach & Defense coordinator |
| Coach | Jon Walker | Offense coordinator |
| Coach | Håkan Eriksson | Quarterbacks |
| Coach | Robert Johansson | Running backs & Special teams |
| Coach | Kristoffer Fredlund | Wide Receiver |
| Coach | Erik Ahlberg | Offense line |
| Coach | Stefan Björkman | Asst. Offense line |
| Coach | Andreas Wennberg | Defense line |
| Coach | Martin Köpsén | Linebackers |
| Coach | Alex Adamo | Defensive backs |
| Staff | Johan Drufva | Doctor |
| Staff | Lars-Göran Waldemark | Equipment |
| Staff | Niclas Carlson | Trainer/SoC |
