I would have said rather the opposite; they usually start abysmally and then improve as a tournament progresses. Their opening victory (review) against Colombia last year was the first time they had won their first tournament game in... let's call it the Modern Era. (It affects the men's team too. They have a word for the phenomenon. Note that the tournament referred to by Lusankya was an exception.) And it was a terrible, terrible game. But their other tournament trajectory is to just be terrible throughout (see 'WWC 2007' in which they didn't get out of round play). Offense? For saying that Team Sweden can be bitterly disappointing? Ah, friend, you'll have be much less logical than that to be Offensive... (and since when is the Truth offensive?)
Has there been any reaction from Dennerby anywhere - to the two thumping defeats to Germany & US? Or just a generally poor showing? Haven't seen anything?
Frauenfussball Schweden says he was "stocksauer" und "angep*sst" after the Germany match, referring to an interview with Swedish radio. After the US match his reaction seems to have been a bit more moderate, mentioning "individual mistakes which you can't make against such an opponent".
No, wait, Dennerby! She actually gets playing time: she played nearly 20 minutes, I guess, vs Malmö, last week... And she was running so slow that she made them feel as they were 80 minutes instead!
This all worked out well for me. FA Cup final is at 12.15 and hopefully on TV, and there is no Arsenal so all the players should be available, then the Scotland vs Sweden game is down the road from me in Stark's Park at 3.00. Can't think of any decent hotels or training facilities in Kirkcaldy so no stalking the teams.
@ffschweden normally knows what he's talking about, but this does sound a bit like an April Fool's joke: "Sensational breaking news: Dennerby plans scoop with Jane Törnqvist & Hanna Marklund som mittbackar, says source"
Wishful thinking, is what that is – harkening back to the good ol' days of 2003. Might as well throw in Karolina Westberg for good measure and historical accuracy.
Teen Team Sweden are stomping around at the U19s, thanks in part to Elin Rubensson, who UEFA claims plays for Malmö FF. Perhaps they too are harkening back to "the good ol' days" when the Malmö FF women's team still existed and had no cash but a slightly less offensive colour scheme?
Hooray for Teen Team Sweden, who won the U19s! Meanwhile, in prep for the Olympics, here are interviews with Lisa Dahlkvist (the focus-y one), Lotta Schelin (the self-confident one) and Nilla Fischer (the strong one) at Stadium. Sound liek the three of them are getting ready for some sort of high-stakes caper, like an jewel heist. The Fischer interview specifically mentions the throw-Marta-to-the-ground incident from a while back; she's always been big and strong, and "tricks are not her thing."
A radio interview with Lotta Schelin (aka, my homework for the day). The interviewer asks what are the downsides to being a footballer and therefore being relegated to far-flung sites instead of playing in the main city. In her answer she talks about the Olympic village and to me she sounds rather excited about it and it's hard to make out, but I think she says "We always have the possibility to experience the Olympic village..." Which, given certain recent revelations about life there (in a large group of young people, a certain number of them are having sex! stop the presses!), makes one wonder. Is the phrase code for something else? If not, should it be? "Right, I'm off to experience the Olympic village, don't wait up for me."
I was under the impression that Schelin already had a significant other... Then again, given what Brandi said, it's quite possible to enjoy the ongoings as a spectator (or, as others noted, as part of a group?).
A loooong piece on Team Sweden; here you can read about Team Sweden's rather dismal Olympic history, and get a giggle or two if you GoogleTranslate to English. There's the stuff about Landstöm and 'the shame chair', for instance, and we also learn that Coach Thomas Dennerby has not just the right, but the mandate to run over the goalie coaches. Tough job, that, no wonder there has been such high turnover. And we also learn some words of wisdom: "You can not make soup on the nail." Truer words are rarely spoken.
Team Sweden had good vibes at their training camp in Visby; there's a fun picture of a group-fun exercise in which Nilla Fischer is confronting a combination kendo expert/classical guitarist. He's wearing armor and has a sword, but she's flexing her biceps at him and I fear for his safety. They played an inter-squad scrimmage at the end of the camp, in which Sara Thunebro scored a free-kick goal; she is pictured looking gritty and thankfully has her white headband back.
The coach has asked Team Sweden to refrain from using social media during the Olympics so as not to get distracted. Here is an overview of their Twitter accounts if you want to follow them once the Olympics are over. (I saw some German article today which tried to translate Twitter terminology into German and came up with "Jünger" for "followers". "Disciples".)
I spoke to Dennerby today as I was waiting for the French team at the airport, a very nice and friendly guy. One of his assistant is very pretty as well.
Found this little gem Upstairs, and in the USA analysis forum to boot. Help me out, o wise and experienced posters: is a Swedish Luck Ball something I would order in the bordello, or in the candy store? It's certainly not something I've ever seen on a football field, that's for sure...
Dennerby is resigning (allegedly) of his own accord, says damfotboll.com . His last match will be on September 15 against the Netherlands.
My goodness - I feel dizzy, confused, surprised: Pia Sundhage takes over from Dennerby as coach for the Swedish national team! http://svenskfotboll.se/arkiv/landslag/2012/09/pia-sundhage-ny-forbundskapten-for-damlandslaget/