Very nervous Swedes
- 10 Jun 06, 02:55 PM
DORTMUND - Sweden's game with Trinidad & Tobago is a matter of hours away and I've heard a rumour that all is not well with the men from northern Europe.
I was talking to a journalist from Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet and he was of the opinion that the players are very, very nervous.....
Their recent form has been poor and a sense of anxiety has run through the camp. Rather than focusing on how many they will score against T&T they are more concerned with avoiding a slip-up.
Furthermore, the relationship between the Swedish players and media is very fractious.
Apparently access to players is even more restricted for the Swedes than it is for English journalists following the exploits of Beckham and Co.
This apprehension does not seem to have affected the Swedish fans.
I heard one Trinidad & Tobago fan say to her mate "if I see one more person in yellow...." and I know what she means.
There are thousands upon thousands of them here and they have bathed Dortmund in a sea of yellow.
Our campsite, deserted when we arrived on Friday, is now virtually full and the fan hall is full of Swedes having a good time.
The area around the Westfallenstadion comprises a vast complex of conference halls, all of which seem to have been requisitioned for World Cup use.
There is a huge Oktoberfest hall, several with giant screens and a red carpet that runs all the way from the stadium into the city itself.
In each facility and at every turn is a Swede drinking a beer and insisting England will have to settle for second place in Group B.
The media centre in Dortmund in filling up with journalists, many of them moaning that they have not been given a pass that allows them into the 'mixed zone' at the end of the match to interview the players.
Most of the journalists here are watching England's game with Paraguay on the large TVs scattered around the room and there was a ripple of excitement when Sven's team scored in the third minute.
One thing that did make me laugh was the sight of Boris Becker interviewing Gary Lineker for German TV ahead of kick-off.
Gary looked a bit uncomfortable, as though he had somewhere else to be.
By the way if you have not seen the video of the Trinidad & Tobago party on Friday click here.
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The Swedes will do ok. They're often criticised in the run up to a tournament yet always seem to make it into the knockout phase. Best of all pundits' comments was Ray Wilkins in USA '94. After one of Sweden's early games he said that the Swedes were not impressive and wouldn't go too far in the tournament. Guess who happened to be one of the pundits for Sweden's semi final game against Brazil? Yes, Mr. Wilkins himself, who proceeded to say - "I always knew that Sweden would get this far." That's pundits for you!
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if the swedes were nervous a couple of hours ago, i'm sure they are much more relaxed now after having see that england ain't a threat
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Well.
If i was an englishmen or woman i would be most dissapointed with the game against paraguay.
Honestly england really sucked.
They might not even qualify for the later round with that play.
Iam so dissapointed they had like zero goalchances against a very week paraguay.
Sorry svennis your team suck and sweden will crush that enland them so easy.
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Well.
If i was an englishmen or woman i would be most dissapointed with the game against paraguay.
Honestly england really sucked.
They might not even qualify for the later round with that play.
Iam so dissapointed they had like zero goalchances against a very week paraguay.
Sorry svennis your team suck and sweden will crush that enland them so easy.
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I am soooo happy that we (Soca Warriors) made it to Germany!!! Win Lose or Draw!!!!! We are a happy land!!!!!
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Well first half finished, and the Swedes arent looking good infront of goal, despite dominating, and now a red..how sad!
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Yes but England won, what else matters?!
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I think fans are the key to the success in the field as they can inspire their stars and what is more, Swede fans have done a very good job to make it possible. So, I think Swedish players can feel a bit of relax. It is also possible for the newcomer Trinidad and Tobago to show their performance on the basis of they qualified for the final. However, there are some exceptions in the history that show that sometimes the celebration of the fans may turn into a huge pressure on the players.
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The Group B Game between England VS Paraguay was better than Sweden VS Trinidad & Tobago.
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What a great result for T&T. A moving effort by their team - to fight with 10 players to the end. Sweden has some great chances but Shaka Hislop (the T&T keeper) made a few great saves. The final pass was just not there. Sweden fought but maybe tried too hard. Which often happens when your team is up a man. You think you have to up the tempo when really you should slow the game down and wear the other team out. Find the open man and that final cross. But easier said than down. Larson too, wasn't his usually self, mis-hitting a long range shot when he was clear and dribbling into defenders. He wasn't the simple classy player that he usually is for Barca. I loved how the coach from Trinidad (think he's Dutch) saluted and cheered the fans after the final whistle blew. This is what the World Cup is about. A tiny country, in their first World Cup (I'm pretty sure), battles for a tie with just ten men. Read more:
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i take it that comment number 9 was ironic - exciting game, T&T were poetry in defence.
congratulations to the author for having predicted hard times for the swedes :-)
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What a gutsy effort by T&T! Hislop played fantastic considering the circumstances. Sancho and Edwards were stellar on defense in the latter minutes.
But, man, Sweden had SO many opportunities. Between Allback's close- range missed chances and Larson's mysterious long range bomb at the end, they blew there chance at their first opening game win since the 1950's.
Gets my tournament watching off to a great start.
GO U.S.!
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Being a Scot and therefore a somewhat neutral observer of this football feast I am intrigued by the England performance. Top class players to a man in a team that started well and fell away in the second half. What happens to quality players in a big tournament? Is it pressure of expectation, first match nerves or lack of coaching tactics that leave the end result a disappointment. Yes a win and a favourable result elsewhere but lets see the quality come through please - we all know its there!
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I feel really disappointed at Sweden, so many chances and yet no goal, a real disgrace! Don麓t feel like supporting my country in the coming games when they are playing this bad.
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I am really proud to be a Trinidadian at this time. Our Soca Warriors have contained the Swedish giants. Though we need to concentrate more on attacking, i must say the guys have given a stellar account of themselves in their opening match. Go Warriors Go!
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Hi uncle paul! i have bookmarked ya site and will keep up to date. Text me!
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Well done indeed to the "Soca Warriors". An absorbing World Cup match (despite the absence of a goal) and, along with the Argentina v Ivory Coast cracker, a far better advertisement for this great competition than today's first game...ahem...
https://www.fustar.org/category/world-cup/
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Patrik
Sweden really suck !
As usual a spineless display, your fans couldn't cheer the team on either. They just gave up !
I cant wait until the 20th, but you will already be out then, cos Paraguay will wipe you out !
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I agree with Fran Jones... England did win so what else does matter?!Ow!
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I agree with Fran Jones... England did win so what else does matter?!Ow!
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