Of course, they have had several matches in sun and heat.
But Peter Gerhardsson’s national team also has waterlogged plans, lightning, thunder, canceled and postponed matches – and even a temporary interrupted World Cup premiere – on the weather account.
For a while, the misfortune seemed to haunt the league captain. His players called him “Rain man”. And now it may be time again.
A storm is on its way in over Japan with wind and rain.
Exactly when it strikes, and whether it reaches Sendai north of Tokyo, where an already quarter-final-ready Sweden will play its final group game match – against New Zealand – on Tuesday, was difficult to predict on Monday. The forecasts are constantly changing.
– The signals are that the match will be played, then exactly when it will rain and if it will rain we will see, says Gerhardsson.
– But we have seen a certain shift in the forecast for the absolute worst. And there is not much we can influence, but it is important to be flexible. We have played matches where you could not go on the field at all, like my first match against Croatia (World Cup qualifier away, 2017).
Mittbacken and newcomers PSG player Amanda Ilestedt laughs when she gets questions about the weather.
– During Peter’s time, it has rained a lot, so we are used to it, she says.
– But there is nothing that worries me. If there is something that needs to be done, it is up to the organizers.
Everything audience is coming to be allowed on the match, as Sendai does not belong to the Tokyo Region.
According to the International Football Association, Fifa, 1,200 people are expected to show up.
– It is of course fun, says Ilestedt.
Read more:
Sweden can get an audience against New Zealand
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