National team doctor Jonas Werner and his staff have physically and mentally prepared the players for the heat shock that may await in the southern United States. That, in particular, did not bother them on Sunday morning, local time.
Overnig ht and into the morning, thunder broke out and rain poured down on Dallas and the surrounding area. After a couple of hours of respite, the heavy rain returned.
"If we had trained a little longer, it could have been a problem. But you can't control the weather," says assistant national team captain Sebastian Larsson.
Leeds player Gabriel Gudmundsson is used to rainy training sessions from his everyday life in England. But what he encountered with the national team in Dallas still seemed out of the ordinary to him.
"It was a hard rain, tough. But it was fun to get out and get some air. Long travel day yesterday so it was nice to get going and move my body," he says.
Team captain Victor Nilsson Lindelöf, Anthony Elanga, Benjamin Nygren and Alexander Bernhardsson suffered minor injuries and were content to jog lightly on the field at the end of training.
The quartet had individually adapted plans before entering the collective training. Instead, they mostly stayed in the gym.
Takes no risks
National team head coach Graham Potter and the medical team are taking no risks whatsoever ahead of the premiere in Monterrey, Mexico, on Monday night, Swedish time.
"There is no major concern. Today it was about gathering the 'guys' and making sure everyone is as fresh and healthy as possible," says Sebastian Larsson.
The rest of the Swedish World Cup squad shook off jet lag and stiffness after Saturday's long flight. Warming up, movement exercises and light football tennis - under heavy, persistent rain - was followed by a visit to the gym. A soft start, in other words.
Time difference a factor
Not least, the time difference between Sweden and Texas requires consideration. A rule of thumb is that the body adapts by one hour a day. There is a seven-hour difference between Stockholm and Dallas.
The national team has four practices scheduled at Dallas Stadium this week, one of which is open to fans.
"Around 3,000 have registered that they want to come," says the national team's press officer, Petra Thorén.
On Saturday, the squad takes on Monterrey. The final training session is scheduled for Sunday at Estadio Universitario.
