The 29-year-old had problems on his side, with Oscar Bobb in particular giving him constant trouble.
If there were any mitigating circumstances in the 1-3 defeat to Norway on Monday night, it was that he had never played for the national team - and that he was assigned the unusual role of left-back in a back three. At home in St Pauli, Smith is used to playing centre-back or central defensive midfielder.
"It's a new position for me, but I need to adapt faster and do it better, simply put," he says.
"Just to come back"
A thankless task?
"No, I wouldn't say that. I'm just very grateful to be making my debut. Then it's up to me to solve the task I'm assigned, and I didn't manage that today."
"It's just a matter of coming back. If there was one good thing, it was that we got this slap in the face today and can learn from it," Smith says.
What are you most disappointed about?
"That we're not getting up to par. We know we can do better. But we didn't manage to help each other enough to look like the team we want to be. We looked a little better in the second half. If there's one thing we're going to take away from it, that's it."
Knows his role
Smith was taken off at halftime, earlier than planned.
"I should have played a little more. This is world-class football. You can't be nice to someone who isn't doing well enough."
Smith is aware of the consequences, that his debut moved him further away from playing time at the World Cup.
"I'm pretty clear about what my role will be in the World Cup. It's not changing my mindset. I'm trying to push myself as best I can and be there if I'm needed."
The national team will face Greece in the World Cup qualifiers at the National Arena in Solna on Thursday. On Saturday, the World Cup squad will fly out for Dallas and will base themselves there.
The World Cup opener against Tunisia will be played in Monterrey, Mexico, on June 15.
