DALLAS. Sweden’s round of 16 can only be confirmed on June 27.
Then you can get a quick trip to Boston for the Round of 16 1.5 days later.
– We cannot influence it in any way, says national team manager Stefan Pettersson.
Sweden ends its group game against Japan on June 25 local time (the night of June 26 Swedish time) in Dallas.
If Blågult has then finished third in the group, Gyökeres & Co may possibly know whether they are through to the round of 16 or not, even if there are still seven groups to finish (eight of the twelve group threes go on to the WC).
But you will have to wait for when, where and which team you meet in the round of 16. Because there are five different options for third in Group F depending on which other three advance, spread over three countries, five cities and four different dates (see below).
Just before midnight local time on June 27, the WC’s group stage is over and that means that Sweden, if they finish third, can have to wait until then at the hotel in Dallas before they know which round of 16 they will play. And in the worst case, at least in terms of the preparations, it may then turn out that you have to play in Boston less than two days later: on June 29 at 4:30 pm EST.
– We haven’t looked at it that much as it turns out as it turns out, we can’t influence it in any way, says national team manager Stefan Pettersson.
“Just to relate to”
But what do you say if you can find out with barely two days’ notice when and where you will play in the Round of 16?
– It’s just a matter of dealing with it and solving it. That’s how it has been many times, that you have to solve things late at last.
But it’s very tight and it’s a World Cup final?
– Yes, I agree. But now there are 48 teams and then it needs to be like this, says Pettersson.
You can also imagine that it affects the training planning, not least in terms of the load, during the days you are waiting for the group stage to be finished and you don’t know whether you will play 29th, 30th, 1st or 2nd.
But the easiest and best in this context is of course to finish first or second in the group. Then you know immediately after the final whistle against Japan when and where you will play the Round of 16, and then the first or second place in Group C awaits (probably Brazil or Morocco).
The 5 options for the Round of 16 for third in Group F
Kick-off times are local to the venue.
BET THE ENTIRE WC – COMPETE FOR GREAT PRIZES IN THE WC PROPHET
The national team
