It takes a miracle to turn the doubleheader with Spain around and reach the final of the Nations League.
That’s what team captain Kosovare Asllani says after the 0-4 defeat in Málaga on Friday evening.
The 36-year-old has chosen to continue in the national team in order to have the opportunity to lift a dent with Sweden. It’s not over, she says about the final chase. But if you listen to the new national team captain Tony Gustavsson, it looks like it will be difficult.
The 52-year-old is straight when he analyzes the consequence of the loss against the World Cup team from a press conference podium inside the La Rosaleda stadium.
– I suffer above all with the supporters back home, who had been looking forward to a very exciting match, it is sold out, and then it will be 0-4 here… says Gustavsson ahead of Tuesday’s return in Gothenburg.
– But at the same time, this is the first match on a four-year journey. And we learn an incredible amount from this loss as well, where we are and what we need to do.
When asked about it’s time to move on, replies Gustavsson:
– It is clear that everyone understands the logic of how tough it is to be 0-4 down against Spain at “half-time”, if you can call it standing.
– But at the same time, it’s a match that has to be played and regardless of whether we’re going to turn it around, win 4-0 and take the match to penalties or if you’re going to see it as an isolated match, it’s still the world number one we face at home. We want to win a match against Spain and show that we can measure up to them. But it will be another tough match. The most important thing right now is that we gather.
Friday’s game was his debut as Swedish national team captain, after only four training sessions with the team.
Sweden now has four straight losses against Spain.
– It was tough, says Kosovare Asllani about the first semi-final meeting and adds ahead of Tuesday:
– We have to stop their shooters.
The emptiness in the eyes can almost be touched. Nevertheless, the team captain says after a long pause:
– Can we get a good start at home – an early goal would have been gold – and then just rush on so…
Striker Johanna Rytting Kaneryd fills in:
– The first thought is of course “hell, we didn’t want this, we want to get to a final”. But at the same time we have to believe in it. So hopefully we can have a well executed match.
After the autumn’s Nations League, World Cup qualifiers await in February.
Regardless of whether you can turn these numbers around, what would it mean to win against world number one Spain?
– It is very important, especially now that we have a new team. That would give us confidence, says Rytting Kaneryd.
– Everything is still new and we need to put things in place.
Read more:
Ilestedt after the 0-4 defeat: “Wish it could be different”
Spain beat Sweden in Tony Gustavsson’s first game
