DALLAS. Sweden won’t win the WC.
However, they can take WC gold in team cohesion.
– I have never been in a team that has so much fun together, says Yasin Ayari.
Some of them have played in two World Cup finals and won one, several of them won the Champions League for the second year in a row this spring and the squad is clearly the highest rated in the entire World Cup.
But merit and market value are not on Yasin Ayari’s mind when he goes up against the French gold favorites tomorrow in the last 16 of the World Cup.
– Each match lives its own life. It doesn’t matter how many World Cup gold or Champions League titles you have if you don’t do what you have to in that particular match, says the midfielder.
“Many think we will lose”
You don’t get starstruck?
– No.
Never?
– No.
Are you triggered by the underdog feeling?
– Yes, it’s fun. There are many who believe that we will lose anyway. Then we go get in and drive and do our best.
Photo: PONTUS ORRE
“The road here strengthened us extra”
If France are favorites to win the World Cup, Sweden could probably join and compete for World Cup gold in team cohesion. At least if you listen to Ayari.
– I have never been part of a team that has so much fun together. The group is great with great people.
The complicated, long and bumpy road to the WC has welded the team together.
– The path we took to get here strengthened us a little extra. Not many believed in us. We didn’t play well and didn’t win the games. To still get here and experience things like this with those you have fought with and suffered with in difficult situations is something fantastic, says the 22-year-old.
The national team
