Forward Dejan Kulusevski is suspended against Greece after picking up two yellow cards in the World Cup qualifiers. And there are a number of other Swedish players who are in the danger zone ahead of the three final group games. As many as eight players will be suspended against Georgia in November if they go on a warning against Greece on Tuesday.
These are Emil Krafth, Victor Nilsson Lindelöf, Marcus Danielson (who regardless seems to miss the November collection due to Chinese quarantine rules), Ludwig Augustinsson, Viktor Claesson, Albin Ekdal, Kristoffer Olsson and Alexander Isak.
– There are several who can be suspended. It was the same before the match against Kosovo. It’s not something we think about. But it is clear that we are telling the players concerned: “You risk suspension”, says assistant national team captain Peter Wettergren.
– Sometimes you need to take a warning, but we must not do any stupid things, that you talk to yourself a yellow card or so. As a coach, you may think this is unnecessary. But sometimes situations arise on the pitch where you come in a little late or so, and the players can not run around thinking that they can be suspended. It inhibits the game.
Wettergren continues:
– We have to go to win this match and if it costs us a suspension… yes, then we have to take it.
The coach does not want to see a “tactical warning” against Greece that causes any player to miss the upcoming meeting with Georgia but may be available for games against Spain in the last qualifying match.
– No, I do not believe in tactical warnings. I have been in teams where they tried to take it but it always ends with boredom anyway. You get beaten in the match afterwards instead. Every match lives its life and we have the players we have available.
Outfielder Viktor Claesson thinks along the same lines as his coach.
– It is worth taking eleven yellow cards against Greece if we win, compared to if we do not take a yellow card but lose points. So you can not think about it too much. We do not take unnecessary warnings, but that should not prevent us from entering into duels, says Claesson.
Two players who are up for a place in the national team’s squad for the November collection will also be suspended for the next yellow card. It’s about Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Isaac Kiese Thelin.
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