Santiago Bernabéu on December 7 last year: Williot Swedberg made a name for himself with both goals in Celta Vigo's shock victory (2-0) against Real Madrid.
At the back, Carl Starfelt was the leader in a defence that held firm against a very frustrated Real side.
"I've met him a few times and I think it felt good. I feel like I have a pretty good handle on him," says the possible replacement for the injured Isak Hien in central defence in Tuesday night's round of 16 match against France in New Jersey.
Connected all the time
Starfelt gives a hint about what it's like to face French striker Mbappé, who has four goals so far in the World Cup:
He's good at many different things. Fast with really good finishing. You have to be ready when he goes, on the ball all the time. I've faced a lot of strikers who are fast, but he's one of the absolute fastest.
How is he on the field as a person?
Nothing special that I've noticed. We haven't spoken. It's been a regular duel between defender and striker, so to speak.
Now the French attack is so much more than just Kylian Mbappé. There's Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Michael Olise and a bunch more. French national team captain Didier Deschamps is almost shamelessly well-stocked with attacking options.
"You have to try to win your match in the match. You have to stay close and be a problem. Don't give them time to twist and turn near the goal," says Starfelt.
“Everything to gain”
Have you faced such a strong attack as the one that awaits you?
Hard to say. When you face Real Madrid, Barcelona and those teams, it's probably similar power going forward.
What would you say to everyone who has written you off?
I don't think we have any problems with that. We are well suited to being a bit of an "underdog". It's natural that we would be in a match like this.
We know that it is an extremely big and important match for Sweden, but it is quite nice to go into a match like that and know that you have everything to win.
The round of 16 kicks off at 11 p.m. on Tuesday.
