The European Football Championship 2009 took place in Finland. For the first time twelve teams participated in the tournament. The qualification mode has also been changed. The first qualifying round denied only the 20 weakest national teams. Sweden had to intervene only in the second round and met in a group of five on Italy, Ireland, Romania and Hungary. The Swedes were without a clean sheet and won all eight games. So they were qualified as group winners for the finals. The second-placed Italians also secured the final round ticket in the play-offs against the Czech Republic, while the third-placed Irinnen failed to Iceland. With eight goals, Victoria Sandell Svensson was the best Swedish and sixth overall top scorer in qualifying.