Nerves, Expectation and Predictions
There are just a few hours left until Sweden take on Trinidad & Tobago tonight in Dortmund, Germany, in their opening match of the 2006 World Cup. With many claiming this is the best squad since 1994, expectations are high. Everyone I’ve talked to is oozing confidence except Seb.
Seb reckons that T&T, with their array of UK-based professionals will surprise everyone, most of all Sweden, tonight.
With Sweden-strikers Zlatan and Larsson not on top form, Trinidad’s West Ham goalkeeper Shaka Hislop is also pretty confident.
“We have a real sense of professionalism,” he told the BBC. “This team is capable of a surprise or two.”
Seb’s theory is that Sweden will choke against a hard-working, well-organized side. I don’t personally buy this because I think we’ve got too much power up front to worry most defences, on paper at least.
But in the back of my mind there is a nagging doubt that Seb could have a point.
Sweden’s last international victory was a 3-1 win over Iceland on 12 October 2005 in a World Cup qualifying match. They’ve failed to win any of the five friendlies in 2006, drawing four and losing one. That speaks an awful lot in T&T’s favour.
No wonder Sweden-coach Lars Lagerbäck is looking for his team to make a positive start to the match
“The important thing at the beginning is not to let them score.
“It’s up to us to play our own game and to set a really high tempo,” Lagerbäck told the press.
I can feel the nerves already; I’m sure they’ll be worse come kick-off.
Here we go: Sweden to win 2-1. Heja Sverige!
Related Posts
Subscribe
|
Print
|
Share
|
Comments


Good luck Jon! Don’t worry, I’m even more nervous than you are.
Posted from
United Kingdom




cheers !
Posted from
Sweden


Comments are closed
Send Your Tips!
Email tips[at]worldcupblog[dot]org
Sweden Club Football News
- Football Manager 2009 Trailer Released
- Daily Dose: 09.05.08
- Barton's Ban: Too Little Too Late from the FA
- Europe’s 10 Most Overpriced Transfers; Or: Prem Transfer Roundup.
- Everton's New Signing: The Incredible £15m Unibrow
More Europe Blogs
France Euro 2008 Blog
695 Articles | 7,689 Comments
Croatia Euro 2008 Blog
169 Articles | 1,715 Comments
Czech Republic Euro 2008 Blog
196 Articles | 319 Comments
England World Cup Team Blog
665 Articles | 2,170 Comments
Germany Euro 2008 Blog
435 Articles | 2,766 Comments
Italy Euro 2008 Blog
407 Articles | 14,436 Comments
Netherlands Euro 2008 Blog
1,426 Articles | 14,248 Comments
Poland Euro 2008 Blog
221 Articles | 1,347 Comments
Portugal Euro 2008 Blog
418 Articles | 6,346 Comments
Serbia World Cup Team Blog
149 Articles | 783 Comments
Spain Euro 2008 Blog
189 Articles | 1,486 Comments
Sweden Euro 2008 Blog
150 Articles | 318 Comments
Switzerland Euro 2008 Blog
195 Articles | 321 Comments
Ukraine World Cup Team Blog
87 Articles | 656 Comments
Greece Euro 2008 Blog
67 Articles | 42 Comments
Russia Euro 2008 Blog
27 Articles | 88 Comments
Scotland World Cup Team Blog
76 Articles | 46 Comments
Ireland World Cup Team Blog
14 Articles | 7 Comments
Norway World Cup Team Blog
1 Articles | 2 Comments
Turkey Euro 2008 Blog
26 Articles | 255 Comments
Romania Euro 2008 Blog
57 Articles | 271 Comments
Austria Euro 2008 Blog
89 Articles | 99 Comments
Denmark World Cup Team Blog
1 Articles | 0 Comments
Albania World Cup Team Blog
4 Articles | 8 Comments
Belgium World Cup Team Blog
39 Articles | 36 Comments
Wales World Cup Team Blog
23 Articles | 4 Comments
Monthly Archives
World 







