A missed World Championship was followed by a missed European Championship, and in between, a relegation to the third division in the Nations League. The national team's luster is not close to what it has been, and this year's four first national team matches have hardly made it hot.
Dane Jon Dahl Tomasson's tough task is to already this fall lift the national team away from European football's lower regions. Then, a victory is required in the Nations League group that also includes Azerbaijan, Estonia, and Slovakia.
If Tomasson is to succeed with the task, among other things, the squad of young players he has steadily guided and is guiding must show that they have what it takes. And that right away.
Lucas Bergvall feels ready – and yet, he is waiting for his debut in a competitive national team match.
I'm coming in good form and will do everything for the team, he says ahead of the meeting with Azerbaijan in Baku on Thursday.
Good start
Cocky? Not at all. Bergvall can lean on a brilliant start since he left Djurgården and Allsvenskan for Tottenham and the Premier League. He has made substitute appearances in the season's first three league matches.
I'm grateful for the trust I've been given. It feels like I've fit in well with the group. It's just a matter of building on that, he says.
Manager Ange Postecoglou has spoken positively.
It's nice to get praise, of course. To know that what you're doing is good, but at the same time, it's also a motivation to become even better. There are always things I can improve on.
Praises Kulusevski
Is there anything that has surprised you since you came to Tottenham that you didn't expect?
No, I wouldn't say that. It's more generally how professional everything is there. Everything is a step better, which you might have expected but didn't quite realize.
Bergvall also emphasizes how important Dejan Kulusevski has been during the first time in London.
He has helped me incredibly much on and off the pitch. A great person and an incredibly good football player.
If Dahl Tomasson lets Bergvall loose already on Thursday or against Estonia on Sunday remains to be seen.
Kulusevski, national team captain in Victor Nilsson Lindelöf's absence, believes firmly in his club and national team teammate.
He has been fantastic. He has come here (to Tottenham) and does really well every day. Bergvall trains hard and learns a lot from the other players. I'm happy for his sake – and I'm happy to take him to the national team, Kulusevski said recently to Football London.
Born: February 2, 2006, in Stockholm.
Club: Tottenham Hotspur.
Previous clubs: Brommapojkarna, Djurgården.
Allsvenskan matches/goals: 37/5.
National team matches/goals: 1/0.
National team debut: January 12, 2024, against Estonia. Replaced Sebastian Nanasi in the 59th minute.
Playing time in Premier League so far: 13 minutes (substitute) in the premiere against Leicester (1-1), 12 minutes (substitute) against Everton (4-0), 9 minutes against Newcastle (1-2). Total 34 minutes.
Current: For the first time selected for competitive national team matches with the national team, which begins the Nations League against Azerbaijan in Baku on Thursday.
