Only the second match as national team captain for Sweden.
Now Jon Dahl Tomasson’s unexpected move is being celebrated just before the start of the match.
– It was fun, says Dejan Kulusevski.
Jon Dahl Tomasson’s first match as national team captain for Sweden was not what anyone had hoped for. It was admittedly the toughest possible opposition in the form of Portugal away from home, but Sweden put in a weak effort, and they conceded as many as five goals.
Praised for the move
On Monday, it was time for Danish Tomasson to lead Sweden on home soil for the first time – and then also the first win. It did take until the 62nd minute, but after a nice cross from the right from Dejan Kulusevski, Gustaf Nilsson was able to put the ball into the goal, and Sweden won against Albania 1-0.
However, that was not the only good performance Dejan made on Monday. The Tottenham star received an unexpected assignment before the match, when Jon Dahl Tomasson completely handed over the responsibility of giving the match speech to the winger.
– He took me aside for a second and asked if I could talk and I said I’ll solve it, then I had to walk around thinking what the hell to say, but it was fun. Maybe I’ll have to take it again next time, says Kulusevski to Fotbollskanalen.
“Did it very well”
Dejan Kulusevski praised Jon Dahl Tomasson’s move afterwards, and the national team captain was pleased with what he saw ahead of the match.
– Fantastic. He did very well. He talked about sticking together and us being a family. It was us, says the union captain, and continues:
– Dejan takes more and more responsibility. I like that. We need more of those players who take responsibility. Victor (Nilsson Lindelöf) and Robin (Olsen) do it. But we need more players who do. It helps us in the end.
Dejan Kulusevski believes that cohesion is essential for Sweden to become a better football team.
– We have to get closer to each other and work on cohesion, become a family and start really liking each other because that’s how it used to be in the national team when things went well. We have a lot to work on, he says.
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