Unfortunately, the legs weren't enough to break into the top three behind France, Norway and Germany. Sweden finished fourth.
We're doing great, we're fighting for victory. Unfortunately, I'm just not doing any better. It's really sad.
But we are still close to winning, and that shows the potential, he tells SVT.
Samuelsson needed two extra shots and on a day when the skiing was not one hundred percent, the opportunity for an absolute hit in Ruhpolding disappeared - and a new visit to the podium.
Brandt took the chance
But there are many promising signs from the last relay before it all comes together on the Olympic tracks in Antholz in February.
Viktor Brandt, who got the chance to start, is competing primarily with Malte Stefansson for a spot on the relay team in the Olympics.
He is clearly aware of that.
It's impossible not to think about it. I'm going out and doing my best and we'll see what it leads to, he told SVT before the relay.
He presented the team leadership with some pleasant problems. Apart from a hurried first shot, he shot cleanly and handed off to Jesper Nelin in second place, just 0.9 seconds behind leading Italy.
Clearly he was pleased:
"Yes, but oh my god, I'm so happy. You don't know how to react to the pressure. I did what I had to do," he says.
Trouble for Nelin
There is a lot of pressure around selections and starting spots. I haven't doubted my ability, but things have to work out. They did today and I'm really happy about that.
Nelin got into trouble in the standing shooting. He thought he had ejected the empty shell when he was about to reload.
He hadn't.
While Nelin fumbled with cartridges and magazines as his pulse raced, time flew by.
"It takes far too long when things get messy like that," he tells SVT.
Suddenly, Sweden lost 35 seconds and fell to 13th place.
Martin Ponsiluoma (after a fall in the prone) shot forward like a rocket on the course and handed off to Samuelsson in the lead, 4.6 seconds ahead of Norwegian Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen.
"You can't do much better. Catching up by 30 seconds is no child's play on this track," says Ponsiluoma.
Samuelsson shot for victory, but missed three shots on the last hill and the chance for another podium finish was gone.
