He tells about a locker room where anger was mixed with disappointment and frustration after the 0-2 loss to Switzerland on Friday.
But the qualifying round continues, already on Monday evening Kosovo is waiting at Ullevi in Gothenburg.
We must be strong. We cannot lose our heads. There is no reason for us to lie down and die, he says.
He is aware of the broad and harsh criticism directed at the national team – and understands it.
I am completely sure that we as a team are just as disappointed as everyone else out there. We have put in an extremely hard job to get results with us. At the same time, we must be honest and say that we have not done well enough. We must fight for people to believe in us.
”Cannot be blind”
Do you doubt your ability?
I would not say that we doubt, at the same time we cannot be blind. We have one point in three matches. We must realize that not everything is right, that we have not done well enough.
I do not want to call it doubt. If you doubt, it becomes difficult to get up. I would rather say that it is a certain self-awareness we need to have. It is not enough to just stand and point at the things we have done well.
Former national team captain Janne Andersson leaned towards a group of players he talked more with. Is it the same under Jon Dahl Tomasson?
That's what I would say. There are often a group of players who should be the backbone of the team, who you perhaps do not quite shake. It becomes a bit extra talk and meetings.
You belong to that group as one of the team captains?
Yes.
High ceiling
What does he talk to you about?
Everything possible. I think we have always had a high ceiling. We must be able to have open discussions and we have had them, at least I and Jon. We must see the problems we have and simply do everything to improve ourselves. We have three matches left and we must do as well as possible.
Do you bring up things like maybe having to tweak the tactical a bit?
Of course. We bring up everything. The tactical is a big part of football. Then it's attitude and duels and all sorts of things.
Do you feel as a player that you get a hearing for your opinions?
I do. I think so. I cannot speak for everyone, but I think everyone thinks that it is a high ceiling, open and that everyone gets to express their opinions. But we must also make decisions, not everyone can get their way.
Isak Hien has had the role of team captain in several national team matches in a row. Against Switzerland, he had to hand over the task to Alexander Isak, something he does not make a fuss about.
I see myself as a leader in this group with or without the armband. "Alex" is also one of the leaders in this team and a great captain, says Hien.
