Ahead of Friday’s Olympic final: “We know that it takes something completely exceptional to win”
Swedish national team captain Jörgen Persson took part in tearing down the Great Wall of China in the World Cup final in 1998.
Now he hopes that Truls Möregårdh and company will do it again.
– We know that it takes something completely exceptional to win. But the players believe in it, says the national team captain.
Apart from China, there is only one country that has managed to win World Cup or Olympic gold as a team in the last 45 years.
It is not entirely surprising Sweden.
In 1998, the Swedish national team captain Jörgen Persson took part in tearing down the Great Wall of China in the classic World Cup final. After that, Persson has two more WC titles in team against China.
It terrified the Chinese and they gave him the nickname “Lao Pe”.
– I know that it commands a certain amount of respect among the Chinese. They know that I, sitting there, have been involved in winning against them, says Jörgen Persson.
“It was magical”
In yesterday’s semi-final against Japan, Sweden was down 2-0 in matches – which they picked up. In the decisive match, Sweden’s Anton Källgren was down 2–0 but stood for an outstanding performance and took Sweden to the Olympic final.
– I had a hard time finding words yesterday and it’s hard to find words today too. It was magical.
One reason why the Swedes succeeded so well during the Olympics is that the players attended several training camps before the games. Something you didn’t have time to do in previous seasons.
– It has been very successful, and I think they actually got the chance to get in shape before the Olympics.
“Truls has shown that it works”
After yesterday’s sensational victory, Persson says that the players got a good night’s sleep and got to take it easy in the morning. They have also had time for a nice nice visit.
– We got to meet the king at Sweden House. It was nice to get some pep there.
Because tomorrow the world’s best teams in all categories await in the final.
– We know that it will take something completely exceptional to win against China.
– But the players believe in it very much and Truls have shown that it is possible to beat them by winning against the world number one and pressured Fan Zhendong in the final.
Truls Möregårdh, Kristian Karlsson and Anton Källgren play the final against China on Friday at 15:00