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No Zlatan, no problem as Sweden thrive on collective spirit
SAINT PETERSBURG, July 2, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Shorn of a superstar since
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s retirement, Sweden were not expected even to make it to
the World Cup but now they are within reach of their first quarter-final for
24 years.
After eliminating the Netherlands and Italy in qualifying, Sweden played
their part in sending defending champions Germany home early by topping Group
F with victories over South Korea and Mexico.
In keeping with his squad, no-frills coach Janne Andersson is not a big
name, having spent his entire playing and coaching career in his homeland.
But the 55-year-old is credited with creating the collective spirit that
has helped Sweden thrive despite a lack of standout individual talent.
“Sweden are definitely thriving as a collective right now, the like of
which we have not seen since 1994,” when they reached the World Cup semi-
finals, Swedish football journalist Kristopher Karlsson told AFP.
“Its been a perfect storm for Sweden with Zlatan finishing his
international career and Janne Andersson coming in at the same time.
“Every single player has bought into Andersson’s ideas of working hard for
each other and having fun together as a bigger group outside the pitch.”
Arguably Andersson’s biggest decision came when he decided not to welcome
back Ibrahimovic when the striker opened the door to a possible return after
Sweden saw off Italy in a two-legged playoff in November.
Ibrahimovic claimed “a World Cup without me wouldn’t be a World Cup” when
Sweden failed to qualify four years ago.
– Tarnished legacy –
Sweden’s all-time top scorer angered many of his former fans with
characteristically self-obsessed comments in the lead-up to the tournament
from across the Atlantic, where he now plays his club football for Los
Angeles Galaxy.
“I think it’s the biggest party in football, playing in the World Cup. All
the best players are there. Zlatan is not there… he should have been
there,” he told reporters on the eve of the tournament.
“The media says they are better without me so that’s why I believe in them.
“This is the Swedish media mentality. I don’t have a typical Swedish name.
I’m not the typical Swedish attitude, behaviour and that and still I have the
record in the national team.”
However, it is not just the media but those inside the Swedish squad who
recognise the value in playing as a unit rather than hoping for moments of
magic from one individual.
“As a team, we play as a collective, all the players together,” said
goalkeeper Karl-Johan Johnsson.
“With Zlatan, as a person, as a player he’s an individualist, and the play
goes around him. Instead, now, we play more the team all together.”
That strong team spirit has also been shown off the field. The entire
Swedish squad stood alongside midfielder Jimmy Durmaz as he denounced the
messages of racial hatred and death threats he received after conceding a
late free-kick from which Germany’s Toni Kroos scored to seal a 2-1 win.
Sweden have now gone as far as they ever did with Ibrahimovic at a World
Cup and could go much further in a wide open half of the draw.
Beat Switzerland and they will face England or Colombia, with Croatia or
Russia waiting as potential semi-final opponents.
“People are delighted with getting this far but beating the teams we’ve
beaten thus far and in qualifying, people think this World Cup is far from
over for Sweden,” said Karlsson.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0856 hrs