Janne Andersson recalls a unique encounter when he thinks of Sebastian Larsson and Mikael Lustig.
He deviated from his usual routine when Sweden reached WC 2018.
It was a very special occasion, says Anderson.
First the message came from Michael Lustig It wasn’t long after he followed it Sebastian Larsson after, after. Two AIK players put their boots on the shelf after the Allsvenskan season.
Sebastian Larsson made 133 caps during his career and Mikael Lustig reached 94.
– I wasn’t surprised because they’ve been at it for so many years. Sometime, the day will come when you have to stop, says the guild captain Jan Anderson For Sportbilt.
Jan remembers the meeting
Janne Andersson describes Larsson and Lustig as reliable players and people.
– They weren’t always the best in every game, but you knew what you got from them and that opened up opportunities for other players who could be more decisive characters.
– They were very important players and personalities during my years on the group.
When the captain of the national team is asked to tell us about a favorite memory with a player, thoughts immediately go to a meeting the night before the decisive play-off against Italy in 2017. The match that ended 0-0 and took Sweden to the World Cup.
– Mickey, Siban and four of the other guys were more experienced and we talked about tactics. They contributed in their own way.
I haven’t done it before nor since and it was a very special occasion. It was very good and we managed the match well after that. Therefore, I feel it is something very special when I look back on the past.
“No doubt at all”
At the same time that Janne Andersson repeatedly returned to the credibility of Larsson and Lustig, he also described good footballers.
Mickey has been the best right-back for a number of years. He was an intelligent player, a good starting player, and a tactically driven player, he says.
– If you’re talking about Sebastian, it’s really the same thing. Always very loyal to what we did. Sometimes he had to play on the edge and sometimes centrally, but there was never any doubt about always hitting the limit. Based on the directions he received, he always drove at one hundred percent.
