Madelen Janogy is the least-capped outfield player in the Sweden squad
The rising star has come off the bench to score in her last two internationals
Tipped to be Sweden's World Cup wildcard, Janogy hopes this is just the beginning
By Alexandra Jonson with Sweden
Five months ago Madelen Janogy made her national team debut. Less than two weeks ago she scored her first goal and on Tuesday in only her fifth appearance for the senior squad she came off the bench to win Sweden their opening match at the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in France.
“Now let’s do this. That was my feeling. I wasn’t nervous, not at all. Just super excited,” Janogy said about her incredible World Cup debut.
Despite 20 shots and dominating play against Chile, when Janogy came on as Sweden’s final substitute in the 81st minute, it was still 0-0. But just two minutes after entering the game, Janogy helped set-up the first goal before putting her own name on the score-sheet just ten minutes later. Her solo run secured victory.
The story was similar less than two weeks ago when Sweden played their final warm-up match ahead of the World Cup. They dominated against Korea Republic in Gothenburg but couldn’t manage to score. Off the bench came Janogy and so came the goal and victory.
“She does it so well: she comes on, they are tired and she’s not afraid. She takes the ball and creates the chances for the goals, I’m so happy for her,” teammate Sofia Jakobsson told FIFA.
Sweden coach Peter Gerhardson has previously highlighted that Janogy has qualities the team have been missing such as her confidence to take opponents on one-on-one.
“I got into the team very quickly, they made me feel like one of them and I the main reason to why it’s gone so well is because I feel so comfortable within the squad, it means a lot for me”, Janogy says about breaking into the Swedish national team.
Unlike her teammates, she started playing football late – not until she was 11 – and it took time before the dream of becoming a professional footballer arrived. But when it did she didn’t hold back: making her debut in the Swedish top division at 19-years-old and in 2018 she played a key role as Piteå won a historic league title. Now she is at the World Cup and forcing people to take notice.
With just five international caps, and only one start, Janogy has the fewest international appearances of all outfield players in the Sweden squad. But with the small glimpses the world has seen, it is no surprise that she is seen as the squad's wildcard.
The Swedes are hoping that this is just the beginning for Madelen Janogy.