Croneman: Why are no uncomfortable questions asked after World Cup exit?

Sweden's exit from the football World Cup before the knockout stages has sparked a debate about the team's performance, with a stark contrast between domestic satisfaction and international criticism.

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Is it just me who sits there like a living, glowing question mark?

Despite the team's failure to advance beyond the group stage, a prevailing sentiment in Sweden, echoed by players, coaches, and the media, suggested they had performed adequately under new coach Graham Potter. This narrative, however, was sharply challenged by international football press, which described the team's play as "embarrassingly poor" and "utterly pathetic."

The Swedish team secured only two points out of a possible 18 in their qualifying group, narrowly advancing after fortunate matches against Ukraine and Poland. In the World Cup, their sole victory came against Tunisia, considered one of the weakest teams in the tournament. A draw against Japan and a heavy defeat to the Netherlands followed, leading to their elimination.

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We had done well.

Columnist Johan Croneman questions this widespread contentment, highlighting the discrepancy between the self-assessment and the international view. He points to the fact that all three teams from Sweden's group that advanced were eliminated in the round of 16, suggesting a broader issue with the team's standing.

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They thought we were embarrassingly bad. Utterly pathetic.

Croneman also touches on the perceived shift in the importance of national team play, citing a comfortable team environment during the World Cup, complete with a hairdresser and family visits. He further notes a concerning trend of players withdrawing from the U21 team, with 11 players reportedly declining call-ups for a match against Finland.

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We ourselves rejoiced in an honorable defeat. 0–3 was at least not 1–5!