First Cap, First Win: Big Night for Bella Andersson

Sweden opened their World Cup qualifying campaign with a valuable away win against Italy. Head coach Tony Gustavsson trusted several young players, and it was 19-year-old Bella Andersson who especially caught the eye.

Sweden had endured a difficult period following their painful penalty shootout defeat in the European Championship quarter-finals. They went on to lose the Nations League semi-final to Spain and then fell to France in the bronze-medal match. The national team also said goodbye to several key figures, with experienced leaders such as Magdalena Eriksson and Linda Sembrant bringing their international careers to an end.

Facing a challenging away fixture against Italy, head coach Tony Gustavsson turned to youth. Felicia Schröder, Smilla Holmberg, Hanna Lundkvist and Bella Andersson — all between 18 and 22 years old — were given their chance. Despite their age, many of them already boast impressive achievements at club level.

The gamble paid off. Felicia Schröder played a key role in the decisive moment, setting up Filippa Angeldahl for the only goal of the match — enough to secure three points for Sweden.

Fans were particularly impressed by the performance of 19-year-old Bella Andersson, who stepped into the centre-back role previously held by Magdalena Eriksson and delivered a composed display.

Besties from Hammarby

For the tall defender, it was her very first appearance for the senior national team. Her call-up isn't a surprise. Even at such a young age, she has begun to establish herself at a top club like Real Madrid — clear evidence of her undeniable talent.

In her post-match interview, Andersson was quick to highlight the role of her close friend and right-back Smilla Holmberg, who also delivered a strong performance. ‘Without her, I wouldn’t be here. She means everything to me,’ Andersson said.

The two promising talents previously played together at Hammarby, though their paths have since diverged. Andersson moved to Real Madrid, while Holmberg is now making her mark at Arsenal.