The biggest European Championship loss of all time.
Now the saws and insults against Swedish national team captain Martin Sjögren are total.
– It is a complete disaster, says Siri Nordby, former Norwegian national team player.
Norway has been tipped to go far in this year’s European Championships and planned the premiere against Northern Ireland with a clear 4-1. In the second meeting, England waited away from home – and the match quickly turned into a complete nightmare.
The giant mockery of the Swede
At half time, England led a senseless 6-0, and Norway eventually lost the match 0-8. It is the biggest loss ever in the European Championships, and a Swede has been at the forefront of receiving the criticism. Martin Sjögren is the national team captain for Norway, and the criticism of him after the loss has not been gracious.
Now even many in Norway think that the best thing would have been to kick him – in the middle of the championship, and before the match against Austria on Friday.
– It is difficult to say if it would have been better without him. It is difficult for another person to enter in the middle of the championship. I do not know if it would have done anything better, but there is no doubt that he should be allowed to go after the European Championships. But unfortunately it is probably already too late now, says the former national team player Siri Nordby to VG.
Requires change
Nordby is just one of many who have criticized Sjögren, and on Twitter she wrote during the match that he “should take the party bus home to Åre”.
– It’s a complete disaster for him. First, it is a naive start to the match. When you do nothing, but say that you have to make a big change and still wait for a break… What are you waiting for then ?, says Nordby.
Sjögren also has a contract for next year’s World Cup, but there is not much to suggest that he will keep the job after the devastating slap in the face against England.
– I’m pissed. To be honest, he has to go back to Sweden again. He’s way too passive. The tactical evaluation level is too poor for this level. It must be over after the European Championships. He does not work at all. Had I played in this team, I would have been pissed off, says Linda Medalen, with 152 international caps for Norway.
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