The national team captain Jon Dahl Tomasson surprised by calling in the relatively unknown striker as a replacement for injured Hugo Bolin.
I always try to think of the best possible outcome. When I came to the camp, I just wanted to get going.
Nygren broke through already as a 17-year-old in IFK Göteborg but did not stay long in the top division.
He left soon after for an adventure in the Dutch league before ending up in Denmark. There, he has gone from strength to strength in Nordsjälland as a 23-year-old.
"A dream"
A dream to make my debut and score my first goal like this at home feels fantastic. I'm extremely happy with my performance. I'm good at being mobile, making runs, both for the team and to make myself playable, he says after 5–1 against Northern Ireland at the national arena in Solna.
The evening was not made worse by the fact that both he and childhood friend Emil Holm started – and got to celebrate each other's goal.
We are very good friends and it feels extra special to score a goal in the same match. We are very close, he is a close friend. We talk quite often and have known each other since we were twelve years old and played in IFK Göteborg, says Nygren.
With the substitute appearance against Luxembourg and the performance against Northern Ireland, Nygren is suddenly a name for a World Championship qualifying squad when it comes down to it in the autumn.
Fight every day
I will fight every day to get into the upcoming gatherings. That's the plan, he says.
He has a very good game and also scores a goal. Well-deserved. Very fun for him and I'm happy for him. He is a fine player with many qualities, so I wouldn't be surprised if we see him here again, says teammate Sebastian Nanasi.
In a qualifying squad, Ken Sema should feel confident. Already in the Nations League, the 31-year-old received great trust. He did not disappoint his national team captain with his performance against Northern Ireland.
Alexander Isak received the prize as the game's player on the national arena in Solna. It could just as well have gone to Benjamin Nygren or Sema.
Sema's exploits on the left flank laid the foundation for the big win. And he himself got to celebrate his second goal in the national team.
A quick reaction. Then you know that when the ball comes to the left foot, it's just smack. I got a good hit and extremely fun to score a goal, he says.
