TO lift a Euros trophy on home soil would be a ‘dream come true’ for Magda Eriksson.
The Chelsea captain and Sweden centre-back is backing a bid that could see her country make history as one of four co-hosts of the tournament in 2025.
Along with Blues and Denmark ace Pernille Harder, Eriksson is supporting a push for the Euros to be held in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.
The bid is being backed football chiefs and governments representing the four countries.
If successful it would see the Euros take place in four countries for the first time ever in two years’ time.
Eriksson told SunSport: “On a personal level I would love to experience (playing in a home Euros).
Read More Football Stories
“I didn’t get the chance to play last time (when Sweden hosted in 2013) as I was too young.
“To play in a joint one hosted by Scandinavian nations would be an amazing opportunity.
“It would also be a cool statement because there are some great shared values that we have and Pernille and I of course represent Sweden and Denmark in this way.
“It feels really natural and nice for us to be able to help out.”
Most read in Football
Sweden, who won the first Women’s Euros back in 1984, have been a force on the international stage for almost four decades.
In that time they have reached a World Cup final, four European Championship finals and won silver medals at two Olympics games.
Last summer Eriksson and her team-mates reached the Euros semis where they were beaten by the Lionesses who went on to lift the trophy at Wembley.
The WSL star, who has 93 senior international caps, admits to feeling envious of England’s experience of winning the contest on home soil.
She added: “We all felt the joy of the Lionesses.
“We all felt a bit jealous of it, because it must be an amazing feeling winning a Euros and doing it on home ground in front of your home fans.
“It would be a dream come true and definitely something that would motivate me to work even harder to be as fit and sharp as possible.”
At club level, Eriksson and Chelsea return to action in Europe tomorrow facing Lyon in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.
The match comes three months after the Blues brushed Paris Saint-Germain aside in a 3-0 group stage win at Stamford Bridge.
Their trip to the Groupama Stadium will see them play Lyon for the first time in the tournament since losing a semis duel in April 2019.
It also comes six months after the French league leaders, who were hit by a swathe of injuries early this term, fell to a 5-1 group stage loss to Arsenal.
Eriksson added: “We’re hungrier now especially after losing the Conti Cup final.
“We’re really hungry for all three (trophies) left and that is where our mindset is.
“Lyon are a powerhouse. I think we sometimes forget how much they have achieved as a club because of the focus on Barcelona in recent years.
“They have a hugely experienced team with really good players. It’s going to be an extremely tough game across the two legs.”
While Lyon are without midfield aces Amandine Henry and Catarina Macario and centre-back Griedge Mbock they have been boosted by the return of defender Ellie Carpenter.
And star striker Ada Hegerberg returned to training earlier this month being sidelined following a leg knock last September.
Eriksson said: “We’re going to have to be on it and I feel we’ve learned a lot this year.
“I’m hoping we can take every learning we’ve had from playing PSG and losing to Arsenal recently and apply them in this period we’re going into now
“It’s going to be an extremely hectic period with a lot of tough games.
“I feel like we’re really prepared for it and we can use the experience that we have.
“It’s not like Lyon are the only experienced team nowadays.
“We’ve also gained a lot of experience over the years which I hope we can apply.”
Champions League aside, Eriksson hopes players in the women’s game will continue to use their platform to battle for equality on and off the pitch.
This month 150 national team players signed a letter which Fifpro sent to Fifa calling for equal prize money for the Women’s World Cup.
Last week Fifa president Gianni Infantino announced the prize pot for the 2027 tournament would match the money awarded in the men’s contest.
Eriksson added: “It’s a huge step in the right direction.
“I hope we can have the same dialogue with Uefa for the future, especially considering how successful the Euros in England were.
“I hope we keep driving standards and pushing for issues we feel are important for us and using our platforms the way we have been.
Read More on The Sun
“I really hope that’s something that won’t go away.
“It’s is part of the DNA of women’s football that makes it unique.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
