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From: Malin Wahlberg, Petra Thorén
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PARIS / STOCKHOLM. Sweden is eliminated from Division A of the Nations League after a great drama against France.
After the defeat, Blågult felt at a disadvantage from the referee.
– We are Sweden and we may not receive the sanctions that we should, says Dejan Kulusevski.
Sweden needed a better result than Croatia in the final round to remain in Group A of the Nations League. It was also a dreamy blue-yellow start at the Stade de France.
Viktor Claesson, who had the opportunity early on, gave Sweden the lead after just four minutes. The midfielder discovered Mikael Lustig and then recovered the ball in the penalty area. Despite the five French around him, he managed to make it 1-0 with a French foot.
However, France turned the game around in the first half. Olivier Giroud leveled in the 17th minute and with ten minutes to go, Benjamin Pavard gave the home team the lead.
When Portugal took the lead 2-1 to Croatia in the second half, hope flared for Sweden, who in that situation only needed a draw. But Giroud scored his second goal of the match at the same time as Croatia drew in Split.
“Push us in the foot”
Sweden made a triple substitution in the 66th minute to try to turn the game around. Substitute Robin Quison also made it 3-2 in the 88th minute and since Portugal turned around and won 3-2, Sweden again only needed one goal to keep their place in Division A. Sweden took a free kick in the last minute and he bet everything forward, but France knew how to recover the ball and put the 4-2 in an empty goal.
– It was tough for us today. We get off to a very good start and feel secure in the set-up game until they take the lead. But when we win the ball in our half of the field, we try to play a small ball, which makes them aggressive and gets the ball back. We push ourselves a bit on the foot. It goes fast and they are good at aggressive ones. We could have been a little more cynical, especially when we have the leadership.
“One hundred percent penalty”
Dejan Kulusevski was a disappointment, however, was a disappointment. Especially after a missed penalty at the end of the first half when Raphaël Varane stopped him in the area.
– It’s a shame, one hundred percent. It is very strange that there will be no punishment and it is the other now, but what to do. We are Sweden and we may not receive the sanctions that we should. Hope to get it next time, he says.
Viktor Claesson also claims that France had the help of the judges.
– When you meet France out, they automatically get more free kicks with them, even if the audience is not there. It will be easy that way. So you try to lie to the judge even more that it’s not fair, he says.
Sweden is now back down to Division B of the Nations League. This means, in addition to less resistance, a financial loss of SEK 20 million.
Photo: JOEL MARKLUND / BILDBYRÅN
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