0–1 after three minutes, 0–2 after six, and finally a clear 0–3 loss in the European Championship qualifier against Azerbaijan in November last year.
The national team's long journey home from the capital Baku was marked by disappointment, anger, frustration, and tough self-criticism.
Feelings that have not been forgotten.
It's never fun to lose a match like that, says midfielder Mattias Svanberg, who was part of the starting eleven at the Tofiq Bähramov Stadium.
"Take lessons"
Nearly ten months after the debacle, a new match against Azerbaijan in Baku awaits. The 25-year-old is keen on taking revenge.
We can take lessons from that match now that we're going to meet them again, he says.
We'll try to get back, not everything, but some memories, so that you get triggered and pushed by it.
The Wolfsburg player, who is back in the squad after a shoulder operation, says that the national team's play under coach Jon Dahl Tomasson is about controlling matches and being offensive.
It's also about details at the Tofiq Bähramov Stadium.
We should play to our strengths instead of letting the opponent dictate the game image, says Svanberg.
In that way, the victory should be secured in Baku and later in the fall result in a promotion from the C division.
It's a group we should make sure to win.
"Has what it takes"
Carl Starfelt is on the same line as Svanberg. It's "Blågult" that should dictate the terms.
It's just a matter of stepping on the gas and going. Our goal is to win the group, and we feel that we have what it takes to do so, says the center-back.
In Victor Nilsson Lindelöf's absence, Starfelt is well-positioned to grab a spot in the starting eleven. He is fully aware of the defensive problems during the spring training matches.
We understand that when it comes to competitive matches, we need to do better in those parts of the game. We can't concede as many goals (ten) as we have.
What's the difference in playing center-back now compared to under Janne Andersson?
There are big differences, but I think most people appreciate it. We want to play more from the back. Defensively, it's more man-to-man, a bit higher defensive play, protecting areas. We want to attack, win the ball back high. A fun way to play when it works. It's just a matter of working hard and continuing to believe in the idea.
Anders Wallin/TT
Henrik Skiöld/TT
Facts: How the Nations League works
TT
The men's Nations League consists of four divisions, where the best teams play in the A division and the worst in the D division.
Sweden was relegated from the second-highest division in 2022 and now plays in the C division.
The group stage, which determines the outcome, takes place during the fall, and it's about winning the group to be promoted directly to the B division.
The group runner-up gets to play a playoff in a double match (home and away) against a group three from the B division in a battle for play in the second-highest division in the future.
The two worst fourth-placed teams in the C division's four groups are relegated directly to the lowest division. The two best fourth-placed teams get to play a playoff against two group two teams from the D division.
Sweden's matches in the C division:
Thursday: Azerbaijan (away).
Sunday: Estonia (home).
October 11: Slovakia (away).
October 14: Estonia (away).
November 16: Slovakia (home).
November 19: Azerbaijan (home).
