The Swedish football team is ready for the round of 16 after a big win (5–1 against Tunisia), a big loss (1–5 against the Netherlands) and a strong but necessary performance against Japan (1–1).
These are three achievements of such different nature that it is difficult to determine where this national team stands.
"That's a good question," says team captain Victor Nilsson Lindelöf after the draw against Japan, which was enough to advance.
"We weren't happy with the last game (against the Netherlands). So we wanted to go out and show ourselves and the Swedish people that we are a better team than that and can perform at a higher level. The way we fight and run for each other today, it's fantastic to see."
Double cramp
He himself could barely walk right after the match, but that shouldn't be a problem. At the end, he got cramps in both calves - and they refused to let go.
"That cramp was something else. I panicked a little there. It didn't go away and then the referee came in the middle of it all and said I had to stand up. That's when I lost it."
Another player who was marked by the match is Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres, who had many tough battles with the Japanese defenders, as the many lacerations on his neck testify.
Like Nilsson Lindelöf, he is not satisfied with just advancing to the round of 16 - against an opponent that has not yet been decided.
"We'll see who we face first and then take it from there. But it's clear that we want to go as far as possible in this tournament. We're all ready," says Gyökeres.
Positive energy
The performance against Japan certainly gives us confidence.
"We stood up well and controlled the second half especially well, so if we can continue that and maybe get a few more combinations in the attacking game and more chances for us up front, it could be really good."
Victor Nilsson Lindelöf has a similar feeling:
"We have positive energy in the group and if we can just continue to build on it, we can probably do good things in the future too."
