It's something I've dreamed about since I was very little, so it feels incredible, incredibly nice, says Johansson after the match.
Dahl Tomasson is not afraid to let players go or make significant changes in his lineups. Take Alex Douglas, 23. In the spring, the center-back made his Allsvenskan debut with Västerås SK. In the summer, he was sold to Lech Poznan. And on a windy evening in Baku, he was sent directly into the starting eleven.
Talk about an unusual way into the national team. The usual way is through various youth national teams or it requires a number of gatherings.
I've never represented Sweden at any level. I was shocked when I was selected, he said this week.
Beside Isak Hien, Douglas made a promising debut in front of Viktor Johansson.
Penalty Save
Söderkisen was given the trust in the absence of the injured Robin Olsen and immediately showed that the selection was motivated.
Did we see Olsen's heir on the Tofik Bähmarov-stadium?
Johansson fought like a lion on the line and saved with the help of Hien a new nightmare start in Baku. It was close to a performance that Azerbaijan avoided taking the lead already after three minutes – just like in the 3–0 win in the European Championship qualifying match in November.
In the middle, Yasin Ayari made his debut in a competitive match, took charge, dared, but that final pass rarely went through, neither for the Premier League pro nor anyone else.
Chances were still created, on crosses and corners. Viktor Gyökeres and Alexander Isak should have done better with their headers when they got the opportunities.
Despite Swedish dominance, no reward yet. Instead, Viktor Johansson got a hero role. In added time in the first half, he saved Ramil Sjejdajev's penalty, after Hien had intercepted an Azerbaijani attacker.
Clearly it went well. It's incredibly nice, both for self-confidence and self-esteem, says Johansson in Viaplay.
The Azerbaijanis were dangerous in their counter-attacks. The defensive vulnerability is the Achilles' heel in the national team's new give. Two new double saves by Johansson kept Sweden in the match.
Isak's Double
The game ebbed and flowed, with finishes at both ends in almost every attack.
In the end, the long-awaited Swedish goal came – a work of the offensive star trio. Captain Dejan Kulusevski found Gyökeres who turned into the penalty area, released to Isak who steered the ball in.
Just five minutes later (minute 70) Isak struck again, again played forward by Gyökeres. Whereupon Isak arranged a penalty that Gyökeres scored to 3–0.
The final result was 3–1 to Sweden, and next up is Estonia at home at the National Arena in Solna.
