“My qualities will be needed”
DALLAS. Is Besfort Zeneli the bomb in the eleven against Japan?
The midfielder was all smiles as he was asked questions after the closed training session.
– I think my qualities will be needed against Japan, says the 23-year-old.
Graham Potter has flagged to make a couple of changes to the XI against Japan after the big loss against the Netherlands.
Can Besfort Zeneli, who replaced Jesper Karlström early in the second half against the Netherlands, be the banger in the eleven?
Potter highlighted the 23-year-old at his press conference the other day and now says ahead of the Japan match:
– I think he is a very good player and I am impressed by him here, which I am by basically everyone in the squad. He is doing very well in Belgium and is constantly taking new steps. We are delighted to have him in the squad, says Potter.
And at the well-watched press conference last night, Swedish time, Zeneli was joined by Alexander Isak and Gabriel Gudmundsson, who are both in the starting eleven.
Should it be interpreted as meaning that he is highly current to start?
– I wouldn’t read anything into it, says Potter, who in and of himself has made it a sport to keep all outsiders in the dark about the eleven.
– But he is available and pushing to take a place.
Got indications on the training
When Zeneli, who a couple of hours later sat down in front of the press corps at the training facility in Frisco and was asked about the chance to start and what the just concluded closed practice had given the players, he was one big smile.
– It feels like I did well against Holland. I hope I strengthened my shares in any case, says the 23-year-old who has only started one competitive international before (the qualifying match against Slovenia last fall when Sweden fielded a B team).
What do you know?
– Haha! You are fast! No, I don’t know much, says Zeneli with a broad smile.
You haven’t got the team?
– No.
But maybe you saw something in training?
– Yes.
And you look happy.
– I’m always happy, he smiles.
Has a bad poker face
Do you feel great confidence from Potter? That he likes you?
– He showed it quite clearly against Holland, where I had to jump in early in a situation where we were behind. I know he likes me somewhere. Then we’ll see what happens tomorrow.
Are you six or eight tomorrow?
– (Laughter) We’ll see.
How do you fit against Japan?
– My energy and that I have a calmness in my game that feels good. I bring out my qualities in the team and I think they will be needed against Japan.
Do you have a good poker face?
– I don’t play poker that much, so I can’t say I’m good at it, says Zeneli, again with a smile.
The national team
