Hamrén praises Zlatan – and the team – Sydsvenskan

– I must say that the U21 players come in and are very talented footballers, but they are also good to come in with positive energy and singing and celebration, said Hamrén at the press conference the day after the game.

– Sometimes life is fair, and yesterday it was fair. Or night it was fair. We’re obviously very, very wonderful that we managed with the objective that we had – to take us to the European Championships. I’m very pleased with playoffet after the tough September collection when we got beat in two games (against Russia and Austria), so I think we’ve collected ourselves well. We have got to that which we desire.

The smile was back of 58-year-old from Ljusdal when he again sat on the podium at the Friends Arena. The glow in his eyes and the intense body language as well.

It was different at the press conference after the match at Parken.

– I was right out of the press conference. My wife thought it looked like I was sitting at a funeral. And it certainly did that. It takes no effort, a match yesterday.

Then felt Hamrén had, even though Sweden has just taken to the European Championships, to give a Boot to the media and the criticism sometimes leveled against the national team during qualifying.

Also, several players took the media criticism in interviews after the game, as if they opened a valve and let out steam that built up pressure over time.

– What the players and what we feel and so on … I think and hope that it was with a twinkle in his eye. We have been called the worst team ever, and if so, I think it is fantastic that we have taken to the European Championship. We must also come up with some digs at times, said Hamrén.

– The way I work as leaders is that we’ll have a group that are strong together. A group that is a little, well, we are against you or us against the other in any case. And I do, whether it

goes well or not. It is my full belief that if you are to achieve success, you must have a group that is well put together and believe in something.

Whether the criticism was the last lighter fluid needed to get Sweden to the European Championship or not, may Erik Hamrén in all cases, note that it is where he and the team will be next summer. In the European Championship. In France.

– Today is not like a funeral. The body and the head is a little more alert today.