It's time now, says Nilsson with a crooked smile about the decision to definitively close the door to Blågult.
He made his debut in the national team in 2010 and made his tenth championship when it became European Championship bronze a year ago.
Before this year's World Championship, he was a reserve. But the 34-year-old, who moved home from Hungarian Veszprem to Önnered last summer, was called in from a skiing vacation in Sälen when Max Darj got injured during the warm-up.
I thought the European Championship in Germany was the last. Now it's absolutely the last, says the midfielder.
How do you summarize your national team career?
It's probably ups and downs... But I've taken two medals (Olympic silver 2012 and European Championship bronze 2024). But what I take with me most is all the people and the fun it is to be in this environment, says "Stycket".
This championship then?
Hard to say after yesterday's loss (24–27 against Brazil). But we haven't really gotten it together, neither in attack nor defense. If we had, it would have been different and we would have managed to win against Spain and Portugal (both ended in a draw), then we wouldn't have had to stand here with these questions.
Can become the worst World Championship
When the national team held a press conference at the hotel outside Oslo on Saturday, the atmosphere was downbeat and gloomy. That the hope of a World Championship quarterfinal would be out already now was something no one had counted on.
If they also lose to Norway on Sunday evening, it will be Sweden's worst World Championship placement ever, at best a 13th place.
This is a small blot in the protocol, it's absolutely. But it's not something that says we won't be able to bounce back, says Jim Gottfridsson.
"Tricky"
For Michael Apelgren, who is making his first championship as national team captain, it's about trying to get the national team building together before the home European Championship next year.
Along the way, he will likely face one or two assessments when it comes to potential rejuvenation of the Swedish squad, which is one of the oldest in the World Championship.
It's tricky, there will be a bit to think about in the work ahead. I knew it would be tough in the World Championship considering all those who were out, the tough draw, being thrown in late. Then we chose to bet on safe cards like "Stycket" and Olle Forsell Schefvert, who still play at a high level. But maybe that's not Sweden's future in that way, says Apelgren.
