Peter Gerhardsson had big plans for his Monday evening. He had scheduled some time for a relaxing swim, followed by a nice meal. Then, he would retreat to his room at the luxurious Cordis Hotel in Auckland to indulge in his love for music. On top of that, he intended to delve deeper into “Resonance,” a thought-provoking book by German sociologist Hartmut Rosa. Clearly, Gerhardsson was enjoying his leisure time and was in no rush. He aimed to be in bed by 9 p.m., as he had an important World Cup semifinal to coach the following day against Spain.
Despite the significance of the upcoming match, Gerhardsson, the manager of Sweden’s women’s soccer team, seemed completely composed as he addressed the media at Eden Park. This was not his first rodeo, as he had led Sweden in three previous major tournaments, all resulting in semifinal berths. With a third-place finish in the 2019 World Cup, a silver medal in the 2020 Olympics, and a semifinal appearance in the recent European Championship, Gerhardsson was familiar with this stage of the competition.
During the press conference, Gerhardsson not only discussed his reading material but also touched on the influence of Johan Cruyff, his passion for scrapbooking, and his tradition of seeking his mother’s advice before games (though he admitted this had become less frequent as he grew older). The only time he showed a hint of annoyance was when questioned about Sweden’s style of play, which some considered not aesthetically pleasing. He defended his team’s reliance on set pieces and praised Amanda Ilestedt, their central defender-turned-goal scorer, for her proficiency in scoring from those situations.
This reliance on set pieces had led to Sweden being labeled as a “direct,” “effective,” “physical,” and “strong” team throughout the tournament. Some critics viewed this style negatively, suggesting that Sweden’s success came at the expense of aesthetics or some form of moral superiority. Gerhardsson, however, vehemently disagreed. He emphasized that set pieces were a valid and essential part of the game, and his team had players who excelled at executing them. It was just one aspect of their strategy to win matches.
Gerhardsson acknowledged that Sweden’s style of play might not align with current soccer trends, but he firmly believed that winning should be the ultimate focus, not conforming to a particular philosophy. He found beauty in Sweden’s intense, high-pressure style of play and was unperturbed by the disregard shown towards his team. Instead, he believed it spoke more about the fluctuations of soccer fashions rather than any inherent flaws in Sweden’s approach.
Flexibility and adaptability were key attributes of Gerhardsson’s team. They were not easily intimidated by physically strong opponents like the United States nor undone by Japan’s technical prowess. Sweden’s ability to adjust their tactics based on their opponents allowed them to overcome formidable challenges. Gerhardsson recognized that Spain combined the strengths of both the U.S. and Japan, but he did not express fear or concern. He admired Spain’s style of play and saw them as worthy opponents, but he was comfortable with the unpredictable nature of soccer, embracing the unknown.
In the end, Gerhardsson’s calm and composed demeanor reflected his acceptance of the unpredictable nature of the sport. He saw beauty in the fact that no one could accurately predict the outcome of a soccer match. While Spain may seem like a formidable opponent, Gerhardsson acknowledged that they might just be the perfect challenge for Sweden. With uncertainty on his side, he remained relaxed and unfazed by the upcoming match.
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