Sweden - Argentina: Players and coaches quotes
June 12, 2002
Lars Lagerback (SWE coach):
(On the team): They are a special
team and along with being good footballers they are team-orientated. All the players, they work very hard for each other. If you look at Henrik LARSSON who is one of the biggest goal scorers in Europe and he is still working very, very hard for his team mates. I think this is the secret of our team.
(On the game): Well, I think it was a little bit careful for both teams at the beginning. Then we got into the game and got our goal. After time went on Argentina dominated more and more and were on top for the last 20 minutes. However, we defended very well, I think.
(On the whether freekicks for goals had been practiced) Yes, Henrik Larsson and Magnus Svensson and a few of the players practice freekicks a lot. Even after we finish training they practice freekicks. They really work on it.
(On taking Svensson off): Well, he wasn't himself and he was tired. There was no gas in his body. I reckon that's the best way to put it. It was his own choice to come off.
(On his feelings at the end of the game): I can't say the last five minutes was enjoyable on the bench. It was a very nervous time. But it's fantastic. We have won the group and this gives us an extra day's rest and we can really use it.
Olof Mellberg (SWE, DF):
(On the Argentina strikers): Five strikers - that's what it felt like. They attacked with enough power.
(On if this was his best experience ever): Yes. I'm not sure if I played my best in my life, but as a team it was probably the best.
Fredrik Ljunberg (SWE, MF):
(On the next match in the knockout phase): We'll play Senegal and it might be a really tough game. But we have self-confidence.
(On his injury and whether he might play in the game against Senegal on 16 June)): I'm still limping but I hope I can have a long rest and play the next game.
Pablo Aimar(ARG, MF):
Gabriel BATISTUTA (ARG, FW)
(On the play): We did everything we possibly could. There was nothing left inside of us. If we made any mistakes, it was unwillingly.
(On the elimination of Argentina): The time is over and the pain is double. Yes, I had dreamt of a different end.
(On whether this defeat is similar to the one inflicted on France): It is two different things. Sometimes the logic of football has no value at all.
(On Argentina's strategy): We have remained loyal to our style and our way of playing till the end.
FIFAworldcup.com
(On the win): After we got our goal, they put us back on defence for a long, long time. It showed the players' character and goalkeeper Magnus HEDMAN made some good saves. We had a bit of luck today, but that's football.
(On the match): It was incredible. We did as well as possible to defend.
(On Sweden's performance): Argentina had a lot of scoring chances but our defence was good and we stopped them..
(On Argentina's performance): We are feeling bad because we have not qualified. We did our best but we couldn't put away our chances. We were beaten by a team that was not better than us.
(On the match): We were looking forward to winning. We felt for the people of Argentina. It was very close and being unable to pay the debt to them makes us feel bad.