PHOTO: Bildbyrån
The Swedish women’s national team charmed many in the World Cup.
But now the reality is different and the Olympic games are far away.
Then the national team players and WC hero Zecira Musovic are forced to endure harsh criticism.
We knew in advance that it would be difficult for Sweden’s soccer ladies in the Nations League, which serves as a qualifying game for the 2024 Summer Olympics. It got even worse when they lost the opening match against reigning world champions Spain.
Criticism of Sweden
But last week another blow came when they only drew 1-1 at home against Italy. Which means that Blågult is five points behind Spain with only two games left to play and the Olympic dream hangs on a very fragile thread.
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Now harsh criticism is being directed at the Swedish national team players, who received so much praise for their World Cup performance this summer. It is the DN journalist Johan Croneman who picks up the big saw and above all focuses on the players’ attitude after only 1-1 against Italy.
“To my surprise, the Swedish players didn’t seem particularly concerned. After the match, the television sports reporter, Milad Akbarzadeh, interviewed four of the Swedes and it was strangely enough one of the most listless groups of soccer players I have both seen and heard in ages. All categories,” he writes in his column for Dagens Nyheter.
“We probably expected exhausted, sweaty, dirty, cursed Swedish players. Linda Sembrant, Kosovare Asllani, Caroline Seger and Zecira Musovic not only looked like they were coming straight from a longer completeness, but also collectively got out some seriously tired clichés, the two most repeated being: ‘We didn’t get up to par’ and ‘ we weren’t good enough today’. Seriously. It’s not enough. It’s not enough.”
Criticizes Musovic
The first goalkeeper Zecira Musovic had his big breakthrough in the WC and was responsible for several decisive feats. But now she has to receive a harsh volley of criticism from the columnist.
“Zecira Musovic was out and about badly before the Italian lead goal in the second half, and saw a loose sock curler with barely any steering speed find its way into a ridiculously easy distance – she didn’t get a single question about that. It was a real painting, and it should have been talked about. Is the Swedish women’s national team getting too much attention in the Swedish media?”, Croneman now wonders and compares to the men’s national team.
“The keel drag that the Swedish players and leaders in the men’s national team went on after the last championship miss was not to be trifled with – the ladies demand and negotiate the same national team conditions and the same treatment that the men have and receive, which is certainly perfectly reasonable on many levels, but must Are they then not at the same time faced with the same set of requirements as the gentlemen? You can actually expect that”.
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Johan Croneman is not at all satisfied with the players’ rude behavior and demands a clear change in the attitude of everyone.
“When the Swedish team gathered in a ring after the final whistle, I counted 37 people, players, leaders. There are many mouths to feed, there are many salaries to pay out, many hotel nights, a lot of fluff and a lot of flair. You cannot repay the Swedish football movement and the many Swedish fans with such disinterest and such nonchalance as the Swedish players showed after the miscalculation against Italy. In view of what is happening in our world right now, one should be careful about exaggeration, but on a sporting level I thought it was semi-upsetting to see,” he writes in the column.
What do you think of the criticism of the Women’s National Team? Share the article and have your say!
READ MORE: Tess Olofsson is now writing history – becoming the first woman ever to referee in the Men’s Swedish League
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