The Swedish national team woke up to the feeling of being in a better position in the World Cup. Now the players can sit back and wait to see what opposition they will face in the round of 16 – although many are pointing towards either France or Norway in New Jersey on Tuesday night.
For one player, it's harder. Isak Hien sat out the 1-1 draw against Japan with an injury, and the center back was missing from Friday's training at the Swedish World Cup base in Frisco outside Dallas.
Isak Hien will be examined during the day and when we have information about what it looks like, we will brief you about it, says the national team's press manager Petra Thorén.
Injured in the spring
National team captain Graham Potter has said earlier during the tournament that Hien is a given in his starting eleven. Who will replace the Atalanta player is not as certain.
Against Japan, Sweden started with three center backs - in addition to Hien, also Gabriel Gudmundsson and Gustaf Lagerbielke - and after Hien's injury, team captain Victor Nilsson Lindelöf stepped down into defense from his midfield role.
The natural alternative is Celta Vigo's Carl Starfelt, who just three months ago played from the start in the playoff final against Poland, but who had major back problems during the spring.
His place in the World Cup squad was uncertain for a long time, he himself was uncertain, and since Hien was injured in the first half against Japan, it was not an option to replace Starfelt, says Graham Potter.
Carl needs a little more time and it was early in the match to make that change, says the national captain.
The 31-year-old, who was substituted in the final minutes, says he is ready to play from the start.
"Yes, I feel good. I'm recovered from the injury and have been training hard for almost a month. So physically I feel good," says Carl Starfelt.
Multiple injury concerns
He admits that it is special to have come closer to a place in the starting eleven due to a teammate's injury.
"It's clear that I'm available if I'm needed and if Graham wants to play me," says Starfelt.
But above all, it's very sad for Isak. We're very tight and it's sad when someone gets injured, especially here in the World Cup. You don't want it to happen to anyone, but you have to be ready if something happens.
Other possible center back options are Hjalmar Ekdal and Eric Smith. The latter had an injury scare last week and did not train fully on Friday.
Neither did midfielder Benjamin Nygren, who started the opening two matches and came on against Japan.
He has a little discomfort, and therefore, in consultation with the medical team, it was decided that he should go to the gym so as not to risk anything, says press manager Petra Thorén.
