It is there that the national team football stands and treads halfway into a failed World Championship qualification.
It's too bad. It's an extreme disappointment, there's nothing to say, we've talked enough, this was the match we needed to win and we don't win today, says central defender Isak Hien to Viaplay.
It was chaotic, nervous, uncertain. Already after a few minutes, panic spread in the so criticized and questioned Swedish defense.
Viktor Johansson tipped a long shot from Granit Xhaka to a corner. Whereupon Breel Embolo headed a corner into the post and shortly afterwards saw another header slip just outside.
With three goals so far in the qualification, Embolo could have made two more already during the first quarter with some flow and killed not only the match but all Swedish hope of group victory.
Swedish giant miss
Switzerland led the game. Much went through Granit Xhaka, the passing genius, but Sweden found stability and organization over time.
Lukas Bergvall headed outside on Ken Sema's cross and then they came, the big chances.
Isak Hien played out to Alexander Bernhardsson on the right wing. Viktor Gyökeres met centrally with a direct pass out to Lucas Bergvall.
Alexander Isak had moved towards the far post. The ball came there, but Isak's side was slightly misdirected.
Post and out.
A textbook example in the subject "counterattack followed by a goal" that did not get to be printed.
Not this either:
Isak got loose, with minutes left of the half. He left Manuel Akanji behind him. Bergvall, who got the chance from the start, hung on.
Isak's pass was perfect, Bergvall's finish defective. Or worse than that. A almost incomprehensible miss with an open goal in front of him.
And an extremely costly one.
If we put away our chances, maybe we're the ones who win the match. But it's no excuse, we have to do better, says Hien.
Sang after Janne
It ebbed back and forth, Tomasson-style. Yasin Ayari wasted a fine opportunity. Johansson and Sema stood in the way when Ruben Vargas got two chances.
Then came the blow. Bernhardsson went too hard at Djibril Sow. Anthony Taylor blew quickly and Granit Xhaka scored the penalty.
We lose it after they make it 1-0 and don't get a forcing, notes Isak Hien.
The songs died on the stands, the boos were heard all the clearer. The fans began to sing "Janne, Janne Andersson".
Bergvall missed another chance before he was substituted out for debutant Roony Bardghij.
In stoppage time, Johan Manzambi made it 2-0 for Switzerland.
The World Championship qualification is halfway. The national team is on one point, is at the bottom of the table and a full eight points behind group leader Switzerland. The road to the World Championship will go via playoff in March. Second place guarantees such.
Next, Kosovo awaits at Ullevi on Monday.
