SWEDEN, A TALE OF SURVIVAL WITHOUT IBRAHIMOVIC

STOCKHOLM (dpa) – Sweden are a symbol of a team’s survival without their greatest star. The side managed by Janne Andersson had to reinvent themselves without Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and they attained an impressive berth in Russia 2018 by defeating no less than Italy in the play-offs. The Scandinavian country is once again excited about football.
Ibrahimovic stepped down from the national team in 2016, and Sweden have also lost other historic players, like Henrik Larsson, Fredrik Ljungberg and Tomas Brolin. They had to launch a new era, marked by uncertainty, group effort and a style that mixes stamina and technique.
It is hard to imagine Sweden matching the success they attained in the mid-twentieth century. They came third in Brazil 1950 and played the World Cup final at home in 1958. Now their goals are more modest, however: qualifying for major tournaments, competing and seeing how far their hard work will take them.
"We have a good group, a good team, and we are doing great work together. We are very intelligent tactically, and we need to keep that up whoever the rival. We are stronger together," Andersson says.
That is the perfect summary of what the Sweden national team is like today: a very solid, supportive side. They will probably not win the World Cup, but no one doubts they can upset any rival, as they already proved against Italy.
Sweden are back at the World Cup after missing South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014. Andreas Granqvist, Emil Forsberg and Ola Toivonen are the best-known pillars of a side eager to write a new page in their history. Set to start the World Cup in the same group as the mighty Germany, they will presumably be fighting Mexico and South Korea for a place in the round of 16. The feat hardly seems impossible.
THE STAR: Emil Forsberg, 26, started his professional career in Sweden’s modest club Sundsvall, before signing for Malmo. His progress led him to join German club Leipzig in 2015, and he is currently one of their stars. He covers a huge range on the pitch. He plays best as a left winger, but he is an all-round player who can play anywhere in midfield.
THE MANAGER: Janne Andersson, 55, is believed to be the man behind the new Sweden. He was once a player and then managed several modest clubs in his home country, enough for the Swedish federation to hand him the reins of the national team two years ago. They clearly made the right decision.
SCHEDULE: Sweden-South Korea (18/6 in Nizhny Novgorod), Sweden-Germany (23/6 in Sochi) and Sweden-Mexico (27/6 in Yekaterinburg).
BEST RESULTS: Runners-up at the 1958 World Cup.
DID YOU KNOW THAT... Henrik Larsson is not only Sweden’s top World Cup scorer (with five goals, the same as Kennet Andersson), but was also the last Swede to score a goal at the event (against England on June 20, 2006)?