Gustaf Lagerbielke got to play from the start in the Swedish three-back line against Switzerland on Friday. It was Braga's first playing minutes in a competitive match with the national team – and only the fourth international match he got playing time in total.
He believes that the experiences from Braga, who play in a similar way, weighed heavily when the national team captain Jon Dahl Tomasson chose his starting eleven.
I know that I have done well in Braga, says the 25-year-old.
We play a similar formation, we press very high and go man against man. The last two matches, away against Sporting and away against Celtic, we have done it very well.
”Terrible performance”
Jon Dahl Tomasson's choice for the Swedish national team – with a three-back line and an offensive playing idea – has at least outwardly received strong support among the players. But so far in the World Championship qualification, it has not resulted in more than one point.
On Friday, it was 0–2 against Switzerland in Solna and when Sweden last met Kosovo – in Pristina a month ago – the blue and yellow national team fell heavily with 0–2 after a ”terrible performance”, according to Tomasson.
According to the players, however, it is not about the playing idea but about the implementation.
In tonight's match against Kosovo in Gothenburg, there is much to improve, admits Gustaf Lagerbielke. But his personal experiences from the club team in Portugal still speak for the playing system.
”Sets high demands”
On the other hand, there is a big difference between grinding in a playing system in a club team – where you meet every day – and in a national team that meets only a few times a year.
Yes, it becomes that you have to put it in high gear, both in training, during international matches and outside, at the hotel when we have reviews, he says.
That it would be a too difficult playing system for a national team, he does not think.
No, I would not say too difficult, but it sets high demands, says Gustaf Lagerbielke.
It's about us working together, working as a team, running for each other, covering each other, talking and communicating with each other. Because it will be important to help each other simply. Clichéd answer, but that's how it is.
