- Title: Sweden has rebuilt team after Ibrahimovic's departure, confident to face France
- Date: 10th November 2016
- Summary: SAINT DENIS, FRANCE (NOVEMBER 10, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PLAYERS WARMING UP SWEDISH TEAM COACH, JANNE ANDERSSON, TALKING TO THE TEAM ANDERSSON GIVING INSTRUCTIONS VARIOUS OF PLAYER RUNNING AROUND THE FIELD PLAYERS DOING STRETCHING EXERCISES NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Swedish) SWEDEN NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM COACH, JANNE ANDERSSON, SAYING: "It's been a while since Zlatan (Ibrahimovic) made his decision to quit the national team and we have dealt with that and started something new and that goes for him (Ibrahimovic) and also (Kim) Kallstrom and (Andreas) Isaksson. We started to build anew ahead of the game against Holland - it's been a while since then and we've played three matches since - and we've taken steps in the right direction at every meeting we've had and for every match we've had in this remodelling process because we lost some experienced players. We're on our way in that process." JOURNALISTS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Swedish) SWEDEN NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM CAPTAIN AND DEFENDER, ANDREAS GRANQVIST, SAYING: "I think Zlatan considered his decision very carefully before taking it so I don't think he will change his mind and return to the national team." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Swedish) SWEDEN NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM COACH, JANNE ANDERSSON, SAYING: "In order to leave with a good result, many of the players and others around them have to be at their personal best because of the quality of the opposition. At the same time, why shouldn't we? I believe we can achieve a good result tomorrow." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Swedish) SWEDEN NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM COACH, JANNE ANDERSSON, SAYING: "I think we've had a good start with many young, new players, partly a new national team. The players have performed very well from how my colleague (assistant manager) Peter Wettergren and I want us to play. They've been very responsive and done many good things in these matches. We're focused on the process which means that we're always looking forward to the next game and to do it well. Now we have to look forward to France and then at the end there will be a league table from it." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Swedish) SWEDEN NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM CAPTAIN AND DEFENDER, ANDREAS GRANQVIST, SAYING: "It will be one of the toughest tasks both for me and for Sweden considering the conditions. As you said, we're a young team. A top performance will be demanded from all players. At the same time we're looking forward to the match - a packed arena against one of the best national teams in the world. We'll go out there and enjoy it. We have nothing to lose. We'll go out there and play. We've prepared well ahead of the match and we know how France wants to play and we know how we have to act during the game so we hope we will succeed with that and that we leave with a positive result." PLAYERS DOING DRILLS MIDFIELDER, ALBIN EKDAL, DOING DRILLS ANDERSSON WATCHING THE TRAINING SESSION EKDAL AND CAPTAIN AND DEFENDER, ANDREAS GRANDQVIST, DOING STRETCHING EXERCISES IN PAIRS PLAYERS STANDING PLAYERS RUNNING ACROSS THE FIELD VARIOUS OF PLAYERS DOING DRILLS WITH BALL
- Embargoed: 25th November 2016 16:04
- Keywords: World Cup qualifier Andreas Granqvist Janne Andersson
- Location: SAINT DENIS, FRANCE
- City: SAINT DENIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Sport,World Cup
- Reuters ID: LVA00157V3K8V
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A newly-built Swedish national team will be facing France in a Group A World Cup qualifier in Paris on Friday (November 11), as they look to cope with the departure of star player Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who retired after the Euro championship.
Coach Janne Andersson, who has shepherded the team to a draw against the Netherlands last September as well as wins over Luxembourg and Bulgaria, said the team is being restructured, having also lost to retirement midfielder Kim Kallstrom and goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson.
"It's been a while since Zlatan (Ibrahimovic) made his decision to quit the national team and we have dealt with that and started something new and that goes for him (Ibrahimovic) and also (Kim) Kallstrom and (Andreas) Isaksson. We started to build anew ahead of the game against Holland - it's been a while since then and we've played three matches since - and we've taken steps in the right direction at every meeting we've had and for every match we've had in this remodelling process because we lost some experienced players," he said in news conference at the Stade de France on the eve of the match against France.
Sweden and France are level at the top of Group A with seven points, followed by Netherlands on four. With only one team guaranteed a place in the 2018 finals in Russia, Friday's match could be key to the final positions in the group.
"I think we've had a good start with many young, new players, partly a new national team. The players have performed very well from how my colleague (assistant manager) Peter Wettergren and I want us to play. They've been very responsive and done many good things in these matches. We're focused on the process which means that we're always looking forward to the next game and to do it well. Now we have to look forward to France and then at the end there will be a league table from it," said Andersson.
Captain Andreas Granqvist said they are well prepared and have studied their opponents.
"A top performance will be demanded from all players. At the same time we're looking forward to the match - a packed arena against one of the best national teams in the world. We'll go out there and enjoy it. We have nothing to lose," Granqvist said.
Also in Group A are Bulgaria, Belarus, Luxembourg and Netherlands. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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