MAKING HISTORY – Hammarby v Sparta Prague

It’s the (semi) final countdown! This is the first year of the Europa Cup and ahead of the mouthwatering semi-final second leg between Swedish giants Hammarby and Czech entertainers Sparta Prague, we speak to players from both sides.

Hammarby currently have the upper hand, leading 3-2 from the away leg, returning home to famously “the best fans in women’s football” and planning to use their energy to propel them to the final.

Meanwhile Sparta Prague will employ their highly successful and cunning plan of sussing out the opposition in the first leg and really going for it in the second.

First we speak to Sparta Prague forward, Franny Cerna (above left) who is raring to go. Born (as they say) in the USA, specifically in California to Czech parents, she played college football in Chicago (scoring for fun) before returning to her family roots in Czechia.  

What would it mean to you and Sparta Prague if you do get through?

Franny Cerna: It would mean everything, because no other club in the Czech Republic has gotten to a final before, so I think that would be really historic.

But it’s really already exciting that we were able to get here, and to use that as motivation to the game – to be able to get into the final – of course we’re going to do that.

I think also the fact that we already got here is something we should really be proud of, and we’re already making history in this way.

You say that Sparta Prague suss out the opposition in the first let, then go at them in the second leg. Any surprises you can spring going into this second leg?

It’s a good question. I think we always get a feeling for the other team.

That was also evident in the first leg, in that the first half was more shaky, and the second half, we were able to already do a little better, because we had a bit more of an understanding.

I think we’re definitely gonna come with some surprises for the second game. I obviously don’t quite want to say yet what it is!

The coach is gonna have to go over it with us and everything, but I think he’s really good at recognising that it is always a two-leg matchup.

We don’t always have to show everything in the first leg, and sometimes focus more on the second leg, because in terms of that it is 180 minutes. It does fall down to those two games, so we can still do anything in the second game.

And are there any young, up-and-coming players that you would recommend we look out for in the Sparta Prague team?

Yeah, I mean, in general, I think our team is pretty young overall. There’s a lot of young talent coming up.

You know, some of our biggest players are young, but some that now are pretty young have been having a lot of success.

Let’s say, Denisa Rancova (18 years old). She’s been having a lot of big games, scoring a lot of big goals. That’s one player to watch, but I think in general, all of our players are pretty young, and could be really interesting for anyone, so I would say keep an eye on everyone.

A couple of questions about you particularly. First of all, moving from Slavia to Sparta Prague.

And there’s obviously local rivalry, etc, all that stuff. Did that go fairly smoothly, or was there any kickback from moving from one to the other?

I think there definitely was some kickback, there always is, of course, when you’re moving from rival clubs like this.

In the Czech Republic, it’s maybe a tiny bit better, because we really do have mostly just the two top clubs, so people do recognise that there isn’t really another option if you really want to change. So I think that that was okay in terms of fans and everything, of course.

There’s always gonna be people that are mad, but luckily now it’s all settled down, and they maybe even understand in some ways why we did it, so I think now it’s all good.

I’m really happy, settled, and I think everything’s going really well.

The other notable thing about you is, growing up in California, playing in college in Chicago. I wonder how that shaped you and your versatility, because you were scoring goals for fun there? I think you had more than… one every two games.

Yeah, I think it was a huge help for me, because in general, when I was playing college soccer, I didn’t quite know if I wanted to go to the professional football level.

I didn’t know if I really had what it took. And I think being there showed me that, why not try it? And that’s what’s then helped me move now to European football.

And I think that In terms of, I would say, being fit all the time, that’s something that’s really important in U.S. football; that constant intensity and constant drive that players there have.

That’s really transferred into me here, and that’s something that’s important for me to bring to the football here as well.

And in terms of just the mentality, too, to not ever give up, to always give my best, to always do everything 100%. That’s really helped me transfer into the football here.

Sometimes it is a little bit different than what I see in the Czech players, so I think that then creates a great balance to have a bit of both.

So, was it a deliberate choice to come to Czechia to play?

Yes, it was because both of my parents were actually born here.

So all my family’s here, and I was thinking: why not first go try somewhere where at least I can speak the language?

I knew some people, and I thought it would be a good stepping stone to get somewhere else. So far, I’ve been so happy here that I haven’t gone anywhere else, but that definitely was why I came here.

Finally, talking about the Europa Cup, and how successful it’s been, with more competitive games. Do you think this is here to stay, and can it make a statement about women’s football?

Definitely. Hopefully it’s here to stay, because it really provides another platform for people to be able to showcase their skills, and in general, somewhere that we can show women’s football.

I think the more games, the more teams we can have involved in a European competition is always going to be good.

And any awareness that we can raise for the game in general is great, so I really hope it’s here to stay.

Next up is Elin Sørum (top right). The dynamic Hammarby midfielder only joined from Norwegian side Rosenborg in January, and is thrilled to have the crucial second leg of the semi-final at home, in front of Hammarby’s extraordinary and vocal fans.

I bet you’re pretty excited about Thursday.

Elin Sørum: Yeah, yeah, it’s gonna be a nice experience to play at home now.

I’ve played in Europe in my past club [Rosenborg] as well, but it’s something special coming here and playing for the fans here. Yeah, it’s a nice feeling.

What would it mean to you and Hammarby if you get through?

A lot. We want to compete in all the competitions we can. Europe is a big one for us.

We want to do good in Damallsvenskan (the highly competitive domestic Swedish league), so we have the opportunity to play in Europe.

We now have the final in the Swedish Cup, and we want to do the same in Europe. We really want that final.

How has the Europa Cup experience been for you? Because you joined in January, didn’t you? And how has the whole thing been, and how important do you think the new Cup could be?

It’s kind of surreal, I think, because my first competitive game was the quarter-final against Sporting. So, yeah, it’s been a lot, and I don’t know if it’s hit me yet that we are in Europe and playing these important games this early in the season.

But that’s what I want to do. I came here because I want to compete for titles, and I think it’s amazing that we have the opportunity to do that this early in the season.

So it’s huge for us. We are really motivated to get there.

Famously Sparta Prague are very good in the away leg. And I wonder are you going to try and close the game down, or defend by attacking and scoring loads of goals? Is there a mindset?

I think we were a bit disappointed with our performance, and we really want to do better, so for us, I think there’s only one way.

We want to attack, and we want to win that game as well.

I don’t think anyone here thinks we’re gonna defend for 90 minutes and hopefully get to the final.

I think we really want to go out there and play our best football, and it’s so important for us, also, for the fans that are coming, that we show them what we want to do with our football.

We want to play entertaining football, and I don’t think anyone is thinking about defending for 90 minutes.

There is only one way for us, and it’s attacking and going for the win.

is there anyone, maybe, who goes under the radar, someone who’s a little bit underrated, that we should look out for?

I don’t think she’s under the radar, but I think Emilie Joramo is a player that does a lot of things that maybe aren’t eye-catching.

It’s not like scoring the best goals, or doing things like that, but the work she puts down, she’s running so much, and yeah, everything she does in defence, and also starting attacks.

Maybe she’s not the last on the ball, but maybe she’s starting the attacks with her passes, but I think she’s very important for us, and obviously, people in Sweden know how important she is, but I think for everyone else, yeah, she’s a great player.

Watch Hammarby vs Sparta Praha (19:00 CET, 18.00 BST) on Aftonbladet, or CT Sport and CTS Sport Plus

Photos: UEFA, Instagram