TAMMERFORS. Linus Johansson’s first World Cup started in the worst possible way.
Laid first on the stand – and for the last three days covered with a high temperature:
– There were difficult days, he says.
Linus Johansson, 30, was one of the players Etihad captain Sam Hallam opted not to show up for the World Cup premiere. Only in the third match, on Monday against Finland, did Johansson make his World Cup debut.
Against Hungary last Thursday, he was out of the team and later in the evening developed a fever of 39 degrees. Then followed three days of fighting a fever, alone in his hotel room.
– It’s been a tough few days since Thursday evening. You had a fever until yesterday (Sunday), so you are not active. You have a cold six months out of the season, but a fever in particular is hard to do anything about.
When seven players warmed up out on the ice this morning before meeting Denmark, Linus Johansson was there again.
– I may be as healthy as I can be.
Sharing the dining room with four others
He himself suspects it’s already in a playable state this afternoon:
– They (the coaches) get the team out, but maybe I should have practiced a bit more because I don’t feel… yeah, everyone knows how the hell it feels after the temperature has been up to 39 degrees for three days in a row. Then you are not cocky on the first day you are healthy.
How often do you get a fever during the season?
-Usually an average of one every season, but then you usually get it on a Friday and be fine the next evening. Johansson says this one was a little narrower than the others.
Which also sends a small pass to setup during the WC cycle:
– It might be the case when you share a hotel, dining room, and breakfast with four other countries. Someone is always sick and someone else is too full to stay in the room, it can easily happen.
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