Updated 23.56 | Published 23.27
HOUSTON. Anthony Elanga, 24, was one of the few Swedish joys in the big loss against the Netherlands.
He hopes he earned himself a starting spot.
– We’ll see if I’m one of the eleven next week, says Elanga.
The Netherlands had just taken the lead 4–0 when Sweden’s national team captain Graham Potter made a triple substitution.
Anthony ElangaLucas Bergvall and Besfort Zeneli entered the field in the 56th minute and just three minutes later Elanga scored. He ran free and reduced it to 4–1 in the match which the Netherlands then won 5–1.
– All I wanted to do was show what I can do when I get on the field, says Elanga about his entry.
Hoping for a starting place
Elanga scored the first WC goal of his career.
– It’s a dream come true. When you’re little, you always dream of goals like this. But I’m a player who loves to win and really wanted to do it today, says Elanga.
Have you shown that you will start against Japan?
– I try. I try every chance I get. Hopefully I did, but we are 26 players and only eleven can be on the field. We’ll see if I’m one of the eleven next week.
Lucas Bergvall, just like Elanga, has been responsible for two appearances so far in the WC.
– It is up to Graham who plays, but I am ready to start for sure, says Bergvall.
Sweden then advances to the round of 16
To finish top two in the group – and thus go to the round of 16 – a victory against Japan in the last group stage game is probably required.
To progress as one of the eight best group threes (out of a total of twelve) it is not yet clear what is required, but it depends on how things go in the other groups.
Three points – which Sweden has right now – is likely enough to make one of the top eight group threes, so Sweden can afford to lose to Japan. But in such cases, the loss should preferably not be too great because goal difference is used to separate the different group threes if they have the same number of points.
Sweden’s goal difference is currently 6-6.
According to a statistical model from the Norwegian newspaper VG Sweden has an 89.5 percent chance of progressing to the round of 16.
“A slap in the face”
Sweden’s last match in the group stage is against Japan on the night of Friday next week. Blågult has the chance to advance to the last 16 even if it were to lose against Japan. But the loss should preferably not be too great if the chance of advancement is to be good.
– We are still in a good position and we must not forget that we won the first game. We can’t be too happy or too sad, we have to keep the balance, says Elanga.
– Just because we got a slap in the face today doesn’t mean it’s over. Absolutely not, says Bergvall.
Sweden are in second place in their World Cup group, but Japan will overtake them if they win against Tunisia on Sunday morning.
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