Ken Sema has never been happier than in the 4–3 win against Algeria. He now has such self-confidence that he, as a left-footed player, shoots with his right foot when he scores a goal.
Not just once, but twice. He was so happy after the goals that he didn't know where to go.
Two destinations in September can be considered obvious – Ljubljana and Pristina, where the European Championship qualifying match begins against Slovenia and Kosovo.
”King Sema, what a day”
His finest evening as a national team player was crowned when he rolled in the penalties to 3–0, for safety's sake with his left foot.
King Sema, what a day, says national team coach Jon Dahl Tomasson about Ken Sema, to Viaplay.
It was (Yasin) Ayari who was supposed to take the penalties, but it was okay when Ken played.
Low-key and unobtrusive outside the pitch, Yasin Ayari controls and directs the midfield.
Isak Hien is the captain who doesn't lift the team with the bandage he has on his arm, rather with his physical presence.
And of course, Hugo Larsson has a place in a regular national team with most players available.
Those who have the space can talk about Anton Salétros (which free-kick goal to 4–0), Benjamin Nygren, newcomer Alexander Bernhardsson and others, and drill deeper into why a lethargic national team in the fall of 2023, a year and a half later, takes constant steps forward. It's moving forward and with a high entertainment factor.
Still something to learn
But still to learn, not entirely unimportant: How to close the store and play for results at a clear lead. Via Ismaël Bennacer, Yassine Benzia and Nabil Bentaleb, the match became nervous.
But we shouldn't forget that we're facing a team that has won all matches in Africa and they play a different football, says Tomasson.
On the question of what lesson was learned from the last 30 minutes of the match when Algeria scored three goals, the national team coach answers:
That we still have a lot to learn. We gave away too many chances, stood and slept. We should learn a lot from that. We have a young and inexperienced team.
