The French world stars were more than a size too big for a developing national team. No one had expected Graham Potter's team to topple the giant in the round of 16.
Players and leaders agreed: Losing 0-3 was no shame.
On Wednesday they fly in different directions. Vacation awaits before the club season begins. They will not be seen in the national team again until September. Gyökeres - and several others with him - believe that the World Cup was just the beginning for this group of players. The Nations League awaits in the fall and next year the qualifiers for Euro 2028.
“Team in good age”
We have a team of good age and extremely good footballers, so we are on the right track and it is clear that we will become much, much better, he says and continues:
We should be proud of what we have achieved, even though we are dissatisfied and it is extremely difficult now. It hurts but it is what it is. We know how much we want as a team and we know where we are going, it will be good in the end.
Gabriel Gudmundsson agrees.
I think we should go home with our heads held high. We should remember where we came from a year ago. We have more meat on our bones, more in our backpacks and we will grow with this experience. This will only make us stronger. We are building a lot from this.
In Jacob Widell Zetterström, the national team has gained a first-choice goalkeeper who will likely be playing the position for many years to come.
What do you think the World Cup and this month together mean for the national team in the long term?
A lot. We are a group of debutants in this kind of context. I feel very positive about what is to come. It was a first World Cup for us but I am convinced that it was not our last.
“Big step in a short time”
Alexander Isak is on the same line.
The most successful are usually national teams that have built on something, and build on it with each championship. That's probably where we want to get to.
If the construction will be ready for the European Championship:
That's the ambition. If we look at where we were a year ago... now we're playing the World Cup and progressing from the group. It's a big step, even though we want more. But it's a big step in a short time, and it can be built on.
Gustaf Lagerbielke is also optimistic.
I think it looks very bright. And considering what we have achieved so far with Graham, it feels like as long as we get to work together, we are still a young national team, it can be good and we look forward to the European Championship.
