Jon Dahl Tomasson has previously described that he wants the national team to play a modern football, with high pressure, quick recovery and vertical passes.
But most recently against Kosovo, the national team captain's project left more to be desired.
Defensively, there were some situations where we did not make the right decision or were not in the right position. It became a bit of a domino effect. Often, when you concede a goal, it's many small steps along the way, says Jesper Karlström after the national team has gone through the 0-2 loss one last time.
"More defensive qualities"
The 30-year-old is already team captain in Serie A club Udinese and has started the team's all eight competitive matches this season. In the national team, however, it looks different and during the September gathering, he did not play a minute.
After the loss to Kosovo, some critics meant that there was a lack of defensive balance. A role Karlström is used to having.
Of course, I may have a few more defensive qualities, but when you play man-to-man defense, it's not like I'm playing in front of the back line.
I also have to have my guy. I have to do it just as well as everyone else. It's more about what kind of player you want to have, but the instructions have been similar.
He says that the style of play is reminiscent of his Udinese, only that it is "more extreme".
I'm used to it in a way, but here it's still a bit more extreme. In the low defense game, we play more zonal defense in the club team. But I feel comfortable with both ways and think I'm good at adapting.
"As good as possible"
The tactics also place high demands on the team's defenders.
It's different demands than before, when you may have played a bit more defensively and backed home. If you're going to dominate a game, it sets different demands on you, says central defender Carl Starfelt, who missed the last gathering due to injury.
At the same time, it's a football that I think, if you get it right, is very fun to play. There are more players in our team who would rather dominate matches, play with the ball and press high than to lie back and hit on counterattacks.
Even if it's fun, is it a football that can give results?
I absolutely think so. If you look at the player material, I think we have players who are at a very high level, especially up front.
Karlström agrees:
We have some young players who will really develop and some who will certainly have their best years ahead of them. I think it can be as good as possible.
