UEFA Euro 2012: Onwards and upwards, says dejected Swedish coach
Swedish coach Erik Hamren said on Tuesday he and his players would spend a day brooding after their 2-1 defeat by co-hosts Ukraine in their opening Euro 2012 Group D clash.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: June 13, 2012 10:03 PM IST
Swedish coach Erik Hamren said on Tuesday he and his players would spend a day brooding after their 2-1 defeat by co-hosts Ukraine in their opening Euro 2012 Group D clash.
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However, the 54-year-old - who has been in the post since 2009 - added that from dawn on Wednesday they would have to lift themselves and focus on their next match against England on Friday.
The Swedes are bottom of the group after letting a 1-0 lead slip as Ukrainian legend Andrei Shevchenko scored a double while England also were pegged back by France in a 1-1 draw.
"It was not the happiest bus ride of my life," admitted the always frank Swede, who at club level has been twice a Norwegian title winner and once in Denmark.
"When you lose, and when you are not happy with your performance, it is never a happy time. No-one talks, it is very quiet.
"I did not sleep much. I worked till the small hours (0130GMT) and I got up at 0400GMT.
"But I am not complaining, thats life," added a visibly dejected Hamren.
However, Hamren refused to attribute blame to any individual player for while Shevchenko's goals came from the poor marking of first veteran Olof Mellberg and then Swedish captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic the Swedes also missed several chances at the end.
"The players are capable of doing their own navel-gazing," he said.
"They are winners, they don't like to lose.
"They can do their brooding today, that suits me, and I will do the same.
"But from tomorrow (Wednesday), it is crucial we begin again with a new attitude."