1995: Sleeping in the light(season schedule as OTL), also the final chapter
Without Pia Sundhage and Nessvold avalible to the national team when it was time for the semi final against Norway in the womens euro(last time it was played as a cup) Bengt Simonsson brought in younger players like Marika Karlsson and Jane Törnkvist. Neither played a minute when Sweden defeated Norway in the semifinal and lost to Germany in the final(same results as OTL)
Gideonsberg did not trade many players during these years and many from the 1992 squad was still important to the team. They began the season with a meager 1-0 victory at home against Tyresö, then crushed AIK at home with 9-1 and Öxabäck away with 8-3 and defeated Öster at home with 4-0(OTL results)
In the fourth round they faced Hammarby. Down with 3-0 at half time when the national coach Simonsson came into the dressing rom. “There are a few girls that might get on the nation squad but you need to play much better in the second half to do that” That woke Gideonsberg. After 20 minutes they had scored three goals and Carin Andersson made the winning goal after 89 minutes.
A few days later Bengt Simonsson announced the squad for the world cup
Goalkeepers Elisabeth Leidinge(Malmö FF) and Annelie Nilsson(Sunnå SK)
Defenders: Malin Lundgren(Malmö), Kristine Bengtsson(Hammarby), Marika Karlsson(Gideonsberg), Åsa Jakobsson(Gideonsberg) Jane Törnkvist(Tyresö FF).
Midfielders and forwards: Anna Pohjanen(Sunnanå), Lena Videkull(Malmö), Susanne Hedberg(Gideonsberg), Malin Andersson(Älvsjö AIK), Åsa Lönnqvist(Tyresö FF), Annelie Olsson(Hammarby IF), Eva Zeikfalvy(Malmö FF), Malin Flink(Gideonsbergs IF)
Anneli Andelen(Öxabäck IF), Ulrika Kalte(Älvsjö AIK), Helen Nilsson(Gideonsberg), Annika Bozicevic(Malmö FF) and Sofia Johansson(Malmö FF)
Pia Sundhage had yet to return to her previous form and said that she accepted being cut from the squad as she was not yet ready for such an important tournament but said that she would be ready for the Olympics.
Sweden would face Brazil, Germany and Japan in their group and Bengt Simonsson wanted to use a
3-5-2 offensive strategy
The press though that there was a bit risky bringing along three young players with no real experience and that Simonsson gambled a lot with Marika Karlsson, Jane Törnkvist and Malin Flink. They would be wrong.
The first game against Brazil started and Bengt Simonsson started with this team:
GK: Elisabeth Leidinge
Defenders: Malin Lundgren, Åsa Jakobsson, Kristine Bengtsson
Midfielders: Malin Andersson, Eva Zeikfalvy, Anneli Andelen, Anneli Olsson, Susanne Hedberg
Forwards: Lena Videkull and Ulrika Kalte
Brazil took command in the first half and Sweden had trouble getting offensive going. But they held 0-0 after 30 minutes when the Swedish offensive got into gear. Just before half time unfortunally Malin Lundgren had to be substituted as she suffered a concussion. Simonsson had two inexperienced defenders on the bench, but he trusted one more over the other and allowed Marika Karlsson to enter the game. During the second half Brazil stormed forward again and Simonsson could watch how Marika Karlsson became the savior time and time again when Brazil tried her side. After 60 minutes Malin Andersson crossed to Ulrika Kalte who scored 1-0. Ten minutes later Videkull scored 2-0 and Brazil was a beaten team.
Then it was time for the clash against Germany. Marika Karlsson and Anna Pohjanen would start in the game. Susanne Hedberg was out of the starting 11.
The German women was a different team than Brazil and was ahead 2-0 after 40 minutes. Bengt Simonsson substituted Anna Pohjanen with Malin Flink at half time. The next half would be legendary and called the Gideonsberg national team half. After two minutes Videkull had to go off and Helen Nilsson from Gideonsberg came on. First time she hit the ball she hit it into the net. Then Anneli Olsson suffered severe bruise and after a short time limping she was substituted for Susanne Hedberg after 60 minutes. Now the real Gideonsberg show began. Years after when they had reunions the players would tell that this was their finest hour. After 62 minutes Marika Karlsson made a short pass to Åsa Jakobsson who moved forward and walled the ball of Malin Flink and then passed to Susanne Hedberg who shot from a distance in the goal post and then Helen Nilsson put the ball in the net to make it 2-2. Every attack that the Germans attempted was stopped cold. Then a corner for Sweden happened. Malin Flink took it and shot it in the middle and Susanne Hedberg headed it into the goal, 3-2 Sweden with 11 minutes to go. Germany now tried offense and pressed on with the whole team. After 89 minutes there was a scramble in front of the Swedish goal and Marika Karlsson took the ball and shot it away up to Helen Nilsson who was all alone and almost could walk the entire German half but put the goal in the net anyway. 4-2 Sweden and Sweden had won the group.
Amid graduation parties it was time for Sweden to relocate to Västerås to play the final game of the group and then the quarter final. A record crowd for womens soccer in Västerås would be set, 9021 spectators, including the rest of the Gideonsberg squad as hosts, family of the players, coworkers and former classmates, including one student who almost fell asleep at a pivotal moment in one of his friends career. The stage was set for the final game Sweden vs Japan
Bengt Simonsson decided to go old-school Gideonsberg and a 3-4-3 selection and he talked to Leidinge and she was ok to rest
GK: Anneli Nilsson
Defenders: Marika Karlsson, Åsa Jakobsson and Jane Törnkvist.
Midfielders: Malin Flink, Susanne Hedberg, Malin Andersson and Åsa Lönnqvist
Forwards: Helen Nilsson, Lena Videkull, Ulrika Kalte
The message of the day was: ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK
Japan never stood a fighting chance. After 5 minutes Lena Videkull scored 1-0, after 7 minutes she scored 2-0 and after 15 minutes Helen Nilsson scored 3-0 in front of a jubilant home crowd. Sweden continued, and it continued to be fun to play on home turf. 4-0 came after 30 minutes by Åsa Jakobsson on a corner taken by Malin Flink. Ulrika Kalte was brought down in the penalty area after 44 minutes. Videkull handed the ball to Malin Flink with the words “It is your time to shine.” Malin smiled and looked towards her family that stood near the middle, then put the ball into the net to the right while the goalie went to the left. At half time Videkull was substituted with Anneli Andelen to save her strength(on request it would later be revealed). 7 minutes into the second half Sweden got another corner. Åsa Jakobsson said to Marika Karlsson to take her place in the box. Malin Flink shot a corner that went high. Malin Andersson shot and the goalie made a save and the ball came to Marika who shot it in the goal. Now the crowd waited for Susanne Hedberg to score, but she failed in every attempt and decided to pass the ball instead, to Andelen who scored. In the last minute Sweden got another penalty and now Hedberg could score. 8 – 0 to Sweden.
As the fans stormed the field to get autographs the Gideonsberg players were dubbed the future of Swedish football. One that heard that was Pia Sundhage who turned off the TV and went out and trained even harder to get her place back. Others that watched with interest was future stars Hanna Ljungberg and Tina Nordlund.
England in the quarter final proved a small obstacle. Now the crowd in Västerås was 10 000 spectators. Sweden played 3-5-2 again and won 3-1 after two late goals by Lena Videkull. Now it was on to Helsingborg and a semifinal against Germany, the long time rivals. The winners would face Norway in the final.
Bengt Simonsson now had the job of finding a balanced team for this game. A team with lots of inexperienced players would be chewed alive by the German team machine. Malin Lundgren was now back from her concussion. He choosed the team that started against Brazil. After the first half it was still 0 – 0. After 60 minutes Malin Lundgren had to go off because she was still not 100 percent and Marika Karlsson came in. First thing that happened was that Marika fouled a German in the penalty area. A yellow card for Marika and a penalty awarded for Germany and 0-1. After 70 minutes Ulrika Kalte went down with a injury, out for about a month. She was substituted with Helen Nilsson. Next injury came within two minutes when Malin Andersson broke her ankle and had to be substituted and Malin Flink came in. Sweden attacked and in the 89 minute Malin Flink shot a corner that Lena Videkull headed into the goal. The game was tied and would soon go into overtime. But one woman though enough was enough. That woman was Helen Nilsson who stole the ball from a uneasy German defense and put it into the net. Sweden was in the final!
The final was to be played at Råsunda and the team got 20 tickets each to hand out to friends. Marika and Malin gave 10 each to former high school classmates and the rest to the closest family. Marika had one remaining and was at a fan corner outside Råsunda the day before the final when a girl came up to her “Hi, I admire you. When I grow up I want to be as good as you” Marika answered “Thank you, what is your name?” The girl answered “Nilla Fischer”. Marika then said “Thank you Nilla, do you want a ticket? I only have one remaining? Do your parents know were you are? You don’t seem to old.” The blond girl called Nilla smiled “I am 10, almost 11. How old were you when you began playing in Allsvenskan? My parents are standing over there and they told me to ask nice for a ticket and if you give it to me I will be the happiest girl alive.” Marika smiled. “I was 16 when I started playing at Gideonsberg, who knows, maybe you will play beside me on the same team someday.” Marika looked at the parents who nodded and Marika gave Nilla the ticket as well as an autograph and a hug.
The day had finally come. This was the day that Swedish ladies football would come into their own(or so SVFF would believe until Damallsvenskan started again and continue believing until Tina Nordlund spoke at fotbollsgalan in 2000). Råsunda was packed, 25000 spectators, all but a few hundred were Swedish fans. SVT had switched their journalists and the best of the best talked in the microphones. Swedish Radio fielded Lasse Grankvist with Ralf Edström as expert. The rain poured down, but the cheers could not be stoped when Sweden entered the field. Bengt Simonsson had decided on the same
3-5-2 tactics as before, but with all the injuries he had to switch some. In goal was Elisabeth Leidinge as usual, the defence was held by Åsa Jakobsson, Marika Karlsson and Kristin Bengtsson. The midfield was held by Malin Flink, Anna Pohjanen, Susanne Hedberg, , Eva Zeikfalvy and Anneli Olsson. Lena Videkull and Anneli Andelen were forwards
It was a thin bench as Malin Lundgren was still not 100 percent, but on the bench just in case. Sofia Johansson and Annika Bozicevic had not played a minute. Ulrika Kalte, Anneli Olsson, and Malin Andersson were gone with injuries.
After 10 minutes Lena Videkull shot the first Swedish shot at goal, wide. First Norwegian shot was in the 24th minute and high over the bar. The teams blocked eachother well and the score was 0-0 at half time. When entering the locker room at half time the team was in a surprise. Outside the locker room was the national team on the manly side. Tomas Ravelli stepped forward “Go inside and rest ladies, then go outside and enjoy the ride, you are already heroes.” After the break and on the way out to the field ahead of Norway they could hear the Swedish crowd warming up. The cheers became bigger and bigger. Now was the time when time would decide who would be hero or who would think “If only”. In the stands one could see the opposition leader Ingvar Carlsson(soon to be PM), the entire royal family of Sweden and a few representatives of Norway. Old players in the national teams were shown on TV and the fans were led by the group that had created the official song “It is now that we break borders” (Det är nu vi spränger gränserna). It was a massive party and the players were invited. The teams continued to block attempts until the 65 minute when Susanne Hedberg shot a cross to Malin Flink who tried a shot to the middle but it was blocked and headed to a lonely Andelen who scored 1-0. The crowd went wild. Norway went on full attack. It was a full court press against the Swedish net. After 78 minutes Norway scored 1-1. Susanne Hedberg had to be substituted and Annika Bozicevic came in. After 89 minutes Sweden had to substitute again as Kristine Bengtsson was too tired to continue and Malin Lundgren came onto the field. The game was tied 1-1 at full time. Before the extra time would begin Simonsson had to make another substitute, Lena Videkull was too tired to be able to continue and Helen Nilsson came in. The extra time came and went, neither team wanting to concede a goal and the game went to penalties.
Team captain Elisabeth Leidinge along with Bengt Simonsson had agreed on who would take the penalties and the group that would decide the outcome had already been informed and they went to the center of the field.
Åsa Jakobsson
Anneli Andelen
Annika Bozicevic
Helen Nilsson
Malin Lundgren
The penalty shoot-out began. All of the Swedes scored, but so did all the five Norwegians and now it was one at a time. The first penalty by a Norwegian was shot, over the bar.
Now it was time for a Swede. This is a time when one person will be remembered as a hero or not depending on the outcome. Up stepped Malin Flink.
“Come on youngblood.” A voice screams. Malin smiles, she know who it is and she feels at ease knowing that people would still like her even if she missed. Lasse Grankvist whipsers on the radio “It is a gamble by Bengt Simonsson, but so has the entire championship been. Youngsters that are outperforming the old guard. Malin listens for the whistle. She runs to the ball. SHE SCORES! SWEDEN WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP, SWEDEN WINS THE CHAMPIONSHIP. SWEDEN IS THE BEST IN THE WORLD.” Ralf Edström speaks in a somber voice “Yes, now calm down.”
Malin, age 20 years had secured the world championship for Sweden. This was to be her 15 minutes of fame. Malin was swarmed by the rest of the national squad and hoisted on their shoulders. She was carried around the stadium and when time came to hoist the cup she did it together with Leidinge. The new generation along with the old.
The team celebrated that night and the next day they were given a celebration at Sergels torg were 10 000 people came. Unfortunally there were no rest because it was back to reality. Three days later Damallsvenskan restarted and it restarted with a bang. Gideonsbergs IF vs Älvsjö AIK, the top two teams. Tomas Nilsson, the Gideonsberg coach allowed Marika Karlsson a bit of rest and put her on the bench while Carin Andersson took her spot. Sussie Bergström on summer leave from college in USA took Susanne Hedbergs spot. Älvsjö had injuries and lacked their best forward, Ulrika Kalte.
The number of spectators had not been influenced by the world championship unfortunally. After 25 minutes Malin Flink passed Sussie Bergström who scored 0-1. Älvsjö scored 2 goals after the half time break and in the 77 minute Helen Nilsson, who did not seem quite her self scored 2-2 and the game ended 2-2.
In the week before next game Helen Nilsson was not her self during training and the day before the game she asked to talk to the coach “Coach, I don’t think the game is fun aymore and I lack the necessary motivation to play at the moment. Please bench me.” Tomas Nilsson looked at her. “I have seen that you are not on the top of your game, I will allow you to start the next games on the bench and then after we restart after the summer break you will play again.” Helen agreed with that.
Then it was time to face Jitex at home. Gideonsberg did not seem their selves even though they tied Älvsjö. At half time Jitex had the lead with 0-1. Tomas Nilsson was upset during the break and gave them a hair dryer speech. It worked, after 5 minutes Pärnilla Larsson tied the game. After 56 minutes of play Malin Flink scored 2-1 after a pass from Susanne Hedbert. Jitex tied the game in the 85 minute but just before full time Marie Kolbert shot from a distance and in the goal by the post. Gideonsberg won the game 3-2.
Next game was Malmö away, a Malmö that still lacked Annika Nessvold, but she would return soon, but for now she was outside the squad. It was a see saw game. Malin Flink passed Susanne Hedberg who scored. Malin Flink then almost missed a pass but hit the ball and it went in. 2-2 at half time. During the second half Maria Kun shot a corner that Marika Karlsson headed into the goal and 2-3. Lena Videkull tied the game in the last minute to make it 3-3.
The games now came quick after eachother because of the world championships and the summer break. Bälinge at home was a classic game of a top team underachieving and missing chances by the dozens while Bälinge scored on the one chance they had. 0-1 came after 10 minutes. Gideonsberg attacked time and time again and in the 75 minute Pärnilla Larsson scored and in the 89 minute Malin Flink had a open goal, but almost missed and hit the post but the ball went in. Gideonsberg won 2-1. Gideonsberg was now in the top as the summer break happened
The aftermath of the game against Bälinge would be more remembered(especially among Marika Karlssons friends and family). A few hours after the game Marika flew with a friend to hike around the Greek islands in the Mediterranean and missed a call from Bengt Simonsson who wanted to bring Marika to a training camp with the national team in Atlanta USA in preparation for the Olympics in 1996. A wanted poster was put in the local paper. Marika was unaware of this until she as scheduled phoned her dad on the next Wednesday to tell that she was ok(years before mobile phones were popular) and the SVFF payed for her return flight and she was soon in Atlanta.
Before the Damallsvenska would resume Gideonsberg played Mallbacken in the Folksam cup and lost on penalties. 0-0 at full time and then Pärnilla Larsson, Marika Karlsson and Marie Kolbert scored their penalties while Susanne Hedberg and Helene Nilsson missed. Gideonsberg was ok with that because now they could focus on winning the gold that mattered most again.
Gideonsberg stormed forward. Bälinge defeated away 3-0, Öxabäck defeated away 6-1, AIK away was defeated 3-0, Malmö at home was defeated with 2-1 and now the gold was almost theirs. Jitex away defeated 3-2 at home. First loss of the season came against Mallbacken at home with 0-1. Things that happen when a team thinks it is unbeatable. Älvsjö was trying to reach Gideonsberg but was still 9 points behind and they hoped for more upsets. Öster away was beaten with 4-0. Then the workers at Arosvallen went on strike and Gideonsberg had to relocate. Älvsjö tied their game the day before Gideonsbeg faced Hammarby and now Gideonsberg only had to take one point against Hammarby to take the gold. On a reserve pitch in front of 400 spectators Gideonsberg won 4-0 with a hattrick by Helen Nilsson and one goal by Maria Kun.
In the next round Tyresö was defeated 3-1 away. Then Sunnanå away was a lackluster affair since Gideonsberg fielded their second squad as most of the players in the regular squad rather rested and stayed home. It was a tie 3-3. Älvsjö was the opponents in the final game of the season before Åsa Jakobsson could hoist the championship again. Two Gideonsberg players would make their final goals for the club, Malin Flink shot 1-1 in the middle of the first half and Helen Nilsson scored 2-1 just before half time. Ulrika Kalte scored 2-2 and 2-3 before the 70th minute. Marika Karlsson and Malin Flink, best friends off the pitch and former classmates in high school and team mates the the county team, national team and Gideonsberg made a play in the 75th minute. Marika passed Malin who ran along the line while Marika ran up behind her. Malin passed to Hedberg who passed back to Marika just outside the penalty area and she wanted her friend to make a final goal and passed Malin again, but Malins shot was blocked and Marika shot the ball into the net to make it 3-3. Malin and Helen were both substituted in the 85 minute to a standing ovation in the small crowd.
When the game ended and Åsa raised the championship and the players saluted the crowd little did people know that this was the end of an era. Gideonsberg would never again reach these heights.