The chance to reach the EC playoffs is gone, but the men’s national team is mobilizing to finish the qualifiers with two victories. First of all, Thursday night, Azerbaijan awaits in Baku.
– We will try to win the match and it is a task that is tough enough, says national team captain Janne Andersson.
The men’s national team has been in Baku since Tuesday and after Wednesday’s training, theory sessions, treatments and rest, the squad’s 23 players are all available for the match.
– We had a good training session yesterday at the match arena and the mat is good, says national team captain Janne Andersson.
The conditions in Baku are excellent and the players are inspired to put on the national team shirt again and, together with the management staff, carry out tonight’s meeting with Azerbaijan.
There are around 50 Swedish supporters on site in Baku to support. After the terrorist act in Brussels, it feels very good for players and managers to get that support from the stands.
– I have the greatest respect for the fact that not everyone goes to Baku for a match that means nothing for an advancement to the EC, but you who are here are real heroes. I hope we can offer you a really good match, says Janne Andersson.
How do you think in a match that does not have a sporting significance from an EC point of view when that chance is gone?
– I match the best team to win. As you know, it is my penultimate international match, the last one is on Sunday against Estonia. I have no other thoughts before these matches than that we should do as well as possible, answers Janne Andersson and continues:
– We will try to win the match and it is a task that is tough enough. Azerbaijan has lost at home against Austria and Belgium with 0-1. Both Austria and Belgium have managed to get out of here with a bit of luck. It is required that we rise to the highest level.
What will be the keys to a Swedish victory?
– It is that we set up the defensive game in a good way. They are individually skilled and skilled on the ball. We noticed that last spring when we won 5-0. It was when we scored 2-0 last spring that it let up a little, but until then it was a completely even match, says Janne Andersson.
What does the national team captain hope to see if the basic condition of a solid defensive game is in place?
– This autumn we have had a good and varied attacking game where we found many good combinations against teams that play with a five-back line, as Azerbaijan does. I hope we can build on that.
2023-11-16 10:41:46
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