Pointless 90 minutes when the qualifiers were already over and a playoff awaits in March? Yes – in terms of sporting significance. No – in terms of what awaits in four months.
The evening was of course important for several players in the heavily reserve team that national captain Graham Potter fielded. Some of the eleven will, if they are healthy and fit, play for a World Cup spot in March. Others wanted to show that they will have a place in next year's first national team squad.
Like Gustav Lundgren who saved a point with his equalizer in the 87th minute.
"It's fun just to make your debut and to score a goal is a little extra. When you have loved ones here, it's extra fun," Lundgren tells Viaplay.
But he wasn't satisfied with a draw.
It's not the real feeling of joy that it would have been if we had played a little better and won the game. We need to get the ball moving a little and play behind them. It felt like we had a lot of possession, especially in the second half, but without creating much, says the Gais player.
The next squad, for the playoffs, will hopefully include Viktor Gyökeres, Alexander Isak, Lucas Bergvall, Hugo Larsson, Anthony Elanga, Dejan Kulusevski and Emil Holm. All of them were missing against Slovenia.
Took no risks
At the same time, Graham Potter took great care with the situation of all the cautioned players who risked suspension if they received another yellow card. That is why players like Isak, Yasin Ayari and Isak Hien were on the bench. Of the nine in the yellow danger zone, only Emil Krafth was in from kick-off.
Access to as many players as possible in March outweighed the strongest possible starting eleven against Slovenia. A decision that can hardly be questioned.
Roony Bardghji, as a withdrawn striker, gave evidence of why sporting director Deco and coach Hansi Flick wanted him to join Barcelona this summer. The dribbling, the quick feet, the eye for the game, the audacity and the courage. The 20-year-old's clear message: He wants to fight for a place in the strongest possible blue-yellow eleven.
Strong goalkeeper message
Jacob Widell Zetterström made his first competitive international appearance and only his second. Does his selection say that Potter sees "JWZ" as the second goalkeeper behind Viktor Johansson? Or is the first place now open?
Ken Sema's national team year ended when he limped out with an injured calf at the end of the first half.
Potter's compote, for obvious reasons, lacked what the Norwegians call collaboration. Emil Forsberg's early involvement (for Sema) contributed to a clearer structure.
With just under half an hour left, right after Timi Elsnik's 0-1 and Carl Starfelt's defensive blunder, Herman Johansson got a well-deserved debut, but it has also been Mjällby's year, not the national team's.
