He was aware that he was on the total team.
But Patrick Lemarck, 20, was not quite ready for the selection in the national team squad.
– I’m still a bit high, he tells Sportbladet.
Three years ago he was talented on the Qviding team in the first division, and he made a move to Häcken and broke through.
It became Häcken’s biggest ever sale when it was sold out Feyenoord Last winter for more than 40 million Swedish kronor.
I don’t know before
Just over half a year later, the winger is taking the next giant step, into the national team lineup led by Jan Andersson, which was introduced at lunchtime on Wednesday.
– I knew I was on the total team, but a lot of them. I didn’t find anything beforehand, that I would be selected, he says when he was still somewhat dazed talking to Sportbladet from his home in Rotterdam.
how did you know?
– I watched the press conference. I’m still a little high. It’s huge, gory fun, says Patrick Woolmark. Barely landed yet.
Last spring, he played 12 matches for Feyenoord in the Eredivisie, 11 of which were substitutes.
At the start of the season, he played five matches, four of which started in the league match and started away from home against Lazio in the Europa League. Results so far: 1 goal and 2 assists for the Dutch giants.
I’ve made strides and grown up, I feel it. Everything became better. It felt like a very good game.
What is the explanation for that?
– I trained like hell during pre-season and I still do. It really paid off. I can run more, I get faster and stronger.
I can handle more in our pressing game and I know offensively what I can do. With extra energy, I’d be better at those parts, too.
sensitive left foot
Fast and technical Wålemark who has a very good shot with his delicate left foot can play on both sides but has mostly started from the right side.
Now he has to compete with players like Dejan Kulusevski (who is not very different in his style of play), Viktor Claesson and Emil Forsberg and without the injury of Jesper Karlsson, the Feyenoord player gets the chance.
Wålemark made eleven international under-21 matches and scored four goals there.
– This is the best footballer in Sweden and I know that there is tough competition in the national team. At the same time, I feel that I have reached a new level in Feyenoord. I will do everything to get playing time in the national team.
It would also mean a big step up internally in terms of family.
Neither Father Jens Walmark nor any of the uncles Jürgen or Boss Walmark participated in international matches for Sweden.
It would be nice to be at the family reunion, says Patrick Woolmark, laughing.