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– It feels fantastic, Dejan Kulusevski told TV4 after the game.
– It was important that we won, and for my part it was good to be able to help the team score goals.
After four consecutive defeats during the fall in the Nations League, it was only one victory that mattered for the Swedish soccer team in the game against Croatia.
A loss or a draw would have meant that the possibility of remaining in the highest league of the Nations League would have been gone even before the final and decisive round.
When the team was introduced It was clear that Dejan Kulusevski, who previously played for the national team as a right midfielder, was the player who would accompany Marcus Berg on the attack.
Surprisingly, it was also clear that Marcus Danielson would have the opportunity early on at the baseline.
Both elections were successful.
Kulusevski and Danielson were behind the Swedish victory after scoring one goal each.
However, it was not just a Swedish party of sound and joy this Saturday night.
Because even though the Swedish victory means that the chance of remaining in Division A remains, it was significantly diminished when Croatia dropped to 2-1.
Goalkeeper Kulusevski, however, was not too depressed.
– That’s what happens in football. We won the game and that was the important thing. We could not add more than three points, he told TV4.
Sweden started best game, and it was the team that led the game. However, the Croats made their way into the match and after 20 minutes played, the guests had changed the landscape of the match a bit.
The Swedish defenders had a difficult few minutes. Among other things, Ivan Perisic shot hard, but Swedish goalkeeper Robin Olsen had good control and knew how to send the ball to the corner.
After a few intense Croatian minutes, the game landscape changed again and Sweden took control again.
When Sweden pressed, it was difficult for the Croatian defenders to keep up, and in the 36th minute, the Swedish press paid off.
In his seventh international game, Dejan Kulusevski scored his first A-team goal when he gave Sweden a 1-0 lead.
The goal came after a very nice Swedish game where Emil Forsberg sent the ball to Mikael Lustig on the right wing. Amused in turn he found Kulusevski who advanced towards the penalty area.
Once there, the 20-year-old was cold. He stopped one defender and parried another before rolling 2-0.
An important goal and a great performance from Kulusevski.
The other Swedish player who had the opportunity from the beginning, defender Marcus Danielson, did not want to be worse.
With just seconds to go in the first half, Danielson nodded at 2-0 after a corner kick from Sebastian Larsson.
The Swedish lead after the first 45 minutes reflected the outlook for the match. Apart from a few minutes in half the time, Sweden were the best team.
Guests Croatia The second half started a bit better, but Sweden was in control of the events on the pitch and didn’t allow the Croats to create much.
Consequently, the first really clear scoring chance of the half was from Sweden, and this time Dejan Kulusevski also participated. The 20-year-old shot a free kick at Albin Ekdal, but Ekdal must still wait for his first goal for the national team after shooting.
After 74 minutes, Kulusevski replaced Victor Claesson. Had there been an on-site audience at Friends Arena, the 20-year-old would surely have received a roaring applause after his great efforts. Now he had to settle for praise from his peers and leaders, after showing that he enjoyed his new role.
– I thrive very centrally on the track. I have a lot more options with the ball and Markus (Berg) and I complement each other well, said Dejan Kulusevski after the game.
When everything He looked good with Swedish eyes came Croatia’s 2-1 goal in the 81st minute after a header from Ivan Perisic who, through a Swedish back, unfortunately entered the goal. A goal that could prove decisive in the battle for a spot in Division A.
With that goal, Sweden remains in last place before the decision in the Nations League, and must take one more point than Croatia, or improve their goal difference, in the decisive matches on Tuesday where Sweden faces France.
– Now we will make the best of the situation against France. It will be important to win it too, and with this victory we have good feelings, said Kulusevski.
