PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Janne Andersson has done his part in Blågult.
But now the TV4 profile Olof Lundh directs harsh criticism after the dismissal.
“It’s sad about Swedish football,” he writes in his column on Fotbollskanalen.
On Sunday evening, the national team captain took Jan Andersson farewell to the Swedish national team. After seven years at the helm and 94 international matches, he waved goodbye to the Friends arena and all the blue and yellow supporters at home on the TV sofas.
Janne’s farewell
Janne will above all be remembered for Sweden’s incredible performance in the WC 2018, where they reached the quarter-finals of a world championship for the first time on the men’s side since 1994. But the last years were painful both for the national team and Andersson, who quickly lost his popularity.
The article continues after the picture.
After failing to reach the WC 2022 and EC 2024, there was no new contract for the indoor athlete and this weekend he led Sweden for the very last time. The final match was indeed a 2-0 victory against Estonia at home in the European Championship qualifier.
Lundh’s criticism
But last week’s shock loss to Azerbaijan leaves his time as captain with a bitter aftertaste. Still, there were strong feelings when Janne Andersson said goodbye to the job as national team coach for Blågult.
“Undeniably different to see the tributes to a national team captain who has not been successful in sports in recent years. That’s hardly how it usually happens when coaches are allowed to quit, but it’s probably right to keep it more balanced than just letting the negative rule,” writes the TV4 profile Olof Lundh in his column on Fotbollskanalen.
“Perhaps it was easier to implement when Sweden won after all. After the sportsmanship in Baku, the players had promised that they would give Janne Andersson, Peter Wettergren and Albin Ekdal a better end to the trio’s time in the national team. Two nice goals gave a Swedish victory and thus a clearly better feeling than last Thursday.
The article continues after the picture.
The hero of the match in the farewell performance fittingly became the Janne favourite Viktor Claesson who was involved in both goals against Estonia.
“In many ways it is telling that Claesson – who is the player that Janne Andersson has used the most over the years (Source: SVT Sport) – accounted for both a goal and an assist when the team did what it was supposed to. It was about winning the last match and trying to regain some honor after the embarrassing keel hauling in Baku,” writes Lundh.
But it wasn’t exactly a pompous celebration at the Frienda Arena when “only” 11,201 spectators made it to the national arena, which holds up to 50,000 spectators. Therefore, there was no audience party that Janne had to say goodbye to, and now Olof Lundh directs harsh criticism.
“During the national anthem, it broke for Janne Andersson for the first time this farewell evening, but not the last. It was noticeable that it hurt the national team captain to leave what he has long called the best job in the world. Even though Andersson also realizes that everything has its time, it was painful,” he writes in his column and then directs clear criticism.
“Still a bit sad that Swedish football had its worst audience figure in a competition context since 7,298 watched Sweden against Luxembourg in the European Championship qualifiers in June 1979. Then it was 3-0 at the Malmö stadium. Now it was 2-0 against Estonia in front of 11,201 spectators at Friends Arena”.
What do you think of Janne Andersson’s departure to Blågult? Share the article and have your say!
READ MORE: The Swedish crazy sawing of Blågult after the shock loss – Olof Lundh now says what everyone is thinking about Janne: “Very obvious”
Sign up for our newsletter
Share