Former Coach Confident Sweden’s Got What it Takes

Former national coach Tommy Söderberg is worried about Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

“[The lad's] got to get his smile back. He’s lost it,” he said, talking football in the Galerian shopping mall in Stockholm today.

Well, yes Tommy. But he’s lost his form as well.

Earlier this week Lasse Lagerbäck reckoned he wasn’t worried about Zlatan’s recent poor form — unlike the rest of the country.

Tommy Söderberg said he felt the immense pressure Zlatan is under at Juve is one of the reasons for his current form.

Possibly. But it could also be the handbags-at-four-paces he’s rumored to have got into with Patrick Viera on the training ground.

As to how Sweden will do in the World Cup, Söderberg said he is certain Sweden will qualify for the knockout round because of the immense experience the squad and management have.

Again, yes Tommy. But let’s remember that experience doesn’t count for much if you can’t score goals. And let’s face it, with Ljungberg only scoring once this season, Zlatan struggling to find the net in recent weeks and Henke Larsson not really getting to play enough, we could struggle up front in Germany.

Then again, Ljungberg did score this week, Henke has just become a medal winner in Spain and Zlatan is so unpredictable he can come good at anytime so, er, I’ll go with Tommy on this one. He’s probably checked in his crystal ball or something.