SSweden
Lundgren
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The Dutch national team can breathe a sigh of relief: the Swedish play-off hero who once threatened their World Cup dreams is now conceding defeat. “I’m in shock,” the player told reporters after his side’s dramatic penalty shoot-out exit. His unexpected vulnerability comes as a surprise to Oranje fans who still remember his long-range winner in Stockholm two years ago, a goal that sent the Netherlands into a tailspin and briefly turned the Scandinavian into a national icon. For all his past glory, however, the 30-year-old forward now admits that the physical and mental toll of back-to-back campaigns has left him spent. “I gave everything I had,” he said, his voice hoarse with emotion. “But sometimes, you just run out of gas.” Those close to the player describe a man who pushed himself to the limit, training through injury and ignoring fatigue in a bid to keep his country’s hopes alive. From an Oranje perspective, the development is welcome news. With qualification for next summer’s tournament still in the balance, coach Ronald Koeman had been bracing himself for another bruising encounter with a Sweden side that has made a habit of upsetting the odds. Instead, he will face a team in disarray, missing its talisman and searching for answers. Still, the Dutch must remain alert. Football, as Koeman never tires of reminding his players, has a way of punishing complacency. The Swedes may be wounded, but they are far from finished, and Oranje will need to start fast, control possession, and convert chances if they wish to avoid another awkward evening in the Nordic cold

  • 2026-04-08
A major setback for Gustav Lundgren. The right-footed Swedish winger has suffered a serious Achilles tendon injury and…