Albin Ekdal’s Final Match for the Swedish National Team: Updates and Preparations for the EC Qualifier Against Estonia

Updated 14.32 | Published 13.13

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The EC qualifying match against Estonia will not only be Janne Andersson’s last.

Albin Ekdal also gives his thanks.

– I honor him by giving him the bandage, says Janne Andersson.

Albin Ekdal has played 69 games for the Swedish national team. In the EC qualifier against Estonia tomorrow, he will make his last.

Ekdal announced this at a press conference on Saturday.

– It’s a decision that has slowly but surely evolved lately. It’s no shock to you. It feels like a good opportunity, I’m not getting any younger and I’ve fought and toiled for Sweden, he says.

How difficult was it to make this decision?

– I have had to fight many, many international matches with minor injuries and mental worries about how it will go. To continue for over two years and toil towards an EC will be difficult. We have a lot of young talent in the middle who will step forward. It’s a decision that has matured and feels right in my brain, but my heart wants to continue. But it feels right to listen to the brain.

full screen Hjalmar and Albin Ekdal. Photo: Joel Marklund / Bildbyrån

Can play with the brother

The midfielder therefore does not look like he will be able to play with his brother Hjalmar Ekdal in the national team.

– I would have liked to have played with him for my sake, his sake and my parents’ sake. You don’t always get what you want. It was close, but not meant to be.

But there is an opening. Carl Starfelt has a cold and Andersson opens to call in a replacement.

– I have to decide that tonight. Then Hjalmar is one of the options. It’s a bit of a joke, but a bit serious about the cash. He himself has said that he is prepared to bet some cash to play with his brother, says the national team captain.

When asked how much Ekdal is willing to pay to play with his brother, he answers:

– You probably have a swish limit of 12,000, something like that somewhere.

The midfielder therefore gets to wear the team captain’s armband against Estonia.

– Albin makes his 70th and last international match tomorrow. With that, I want to honor him by giving him the bandage, says Janne Andersson.

Ekdal hopes for a significantly better Sweden against Estonia tomorrow than the latest debacle against Azerbaijan.

– I hope that we will see a different Sweden tomorrow. We are playing the last game here at home and it is my last game, so we feel that we want revenge, says Ekdal.

full screen Photo: Joel Marklund / Bildbyrån
2023-11-18 12:45:00
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