Sweden risks relegating to Class C in the Nations League.
The national team then takes a step back towards 4-4-2.
– It didn’t work out and it’s a pretty steep situation, so it’s smart to go back to basics, says Matthias Svanberg.
Before the team’s last meeting in June, the national team captain Jan Anderson Decision to cancel 4–4–2 and switch to 4–4–3.
– Gives new impetus after defeating the last group when we missed the toilet. It gives the group new energy. We think it will suit our players. It may take some time, but we are looking forward to it,” the national team captain said at the time.
Sweden played four Nations League matches during the campaign, losing all but one to Slovenia. After two losses to Norway and one to Serbia, the national team now chooses to fall back towards 4-4-2.
We evaluated and defended didn’t get the sting in the press we wanted and allowed a lot of turnarounds and chances against us, so we’ll probably go back a little bit to the old defensive game and we’re going to fail,” says Victor Cleason:
– It’s not black or white, 4-4-2 or 4-3-3, it’s more about your defensive and offensive styles and play. But it will be defensive in the old direction.
What do you think that?
I think the defensive match worked very well. We’ve upset the best countries in the world so it’s safe to go back to that.
“Obviously we didn’t understand”
Matthias Svanberg also thinks it’s a good decision because Sweden risks relegating to Class C in the Nations League.
– It might be wise, given that we haven’t really made it to the last set. We have two important games to play now and to get back to the basics we are used to trying to maximize the performance of this particular group, he says and continues:
– I thought there was great potential for what we did, but we didn’t get it. It was very clear. Obviously we could work this way another time and do a much better job. It didn’t go the way we wanted it to and all the players felt it too. But I don’t think anyone feels like we can’t do it again, but I think a lot of people feel it was a good idea and we can keep working on it, but it won’t be in that pool, I think also feels good for most people.
To what extent are the players involved in the decision?
– Of course this is important. We try to have a relationship between the players and the coaches that allows us to work in the same direction. Then I don’t know what other players think, and I hardly remember what I think myself. But as I said, I think it’s a wise decision given that many people are quite used to playing this way before and it might not be an opportunity to develop something in this particular group, considering that they eat very important matches.
Sweden faces Serbia away on Saturday, while Slovenia plays at home on Tuesday.
