“European Summer 2020 can be a new blue-yellow playoff party”

There were not many seconds during 90 minutes plus extra time as it was longer than five meters between the Swedish players in the defensive position. Romania's acknowledged sharp counter-attack was never given a chance.

And when Marcus Berg used his head for more than thinking, it was run for the Romanians.

- Now I'm going out with the bomb here. I quit after the European Championships.

The words are Marcus Bergs, and he delivered them at a press conference with the national team in Cyprus this week.

Talk to him, Janne Andersson.

He can become a shooter in Qatar 2022.

After four goals against Luxembourg on October 7, 2017, it took 16 scoreless matches before Marcus Berg was listed for a goal in the national team again. 16 matchless matches. One ... scant result. To say the least.

Then suddenly - goal against Russia last November. The target drought over? Forget it.

The 2019 national team started as usual with exactly zero goals for Marcus Berg against, among other national teams such as Malta and the Faroe Islands. Then even Janne Andersson seemed to give up. After a (!) Goal on 22 international matches, Berg got his start on the bench against Norway in September.

The entire nation cheered when the futures of Robin Quasion and Alexander Isak got off to a head start. But nothing worked, and against Spain it was as usual again. Marcus Berg from the start.

Or, not really. Or. Absolutely not at all as usual.

Marcus Berg trailed 1-0 behind David De Gea as if he were the notorious goalie he is not, a goal that could have sent Sweden to the European Championship but a late Spanish receipt put an end to the European celebration.

Berg instead trailed 1-0 against Romania and sent Sweden from Bucharest to the European Championships tonight.

The target machine Berg. Feel it.

Marcus Berg is apparently producing national team goals in November. The World Cup premiere in Qatar will be played on November 21, 2022. The captaincy of Andersson should prepare him for a continuation in the national team at least over the World Cup.

Few players have been as questioned in the national team as Marcus Berg.

The union captain Janne Andersson has never doubted. He didn't have to. For what Marcus Berg has not delivered in terms of goals, he has always delivered as a culture carrier both on and off the plan. In addition, Berg has provided forwards, removed defenders for his attacking colleagues and been the first line of defense in a collective Swedish defense wall.

Not always spectacular, not always at the center of events. But always very, very important for Janne Andersson's national team.

Sweden can already begin to focus on the European final.

Following the success of the World Cup final, Janne Andersson was slightly self-critical after the draw against England in the quarterfinals. To go further, Sweden needed to develop its attacking game. Sweden has shown that this has been done during this European qualification.

And there's so much more to wriggle out of this squad before the playoffs begin.

Robin Quaison and Alexander Isak will challenge Berg for the top spots in the starting eleven.

And then we haven't even got to see Dejan Kulusevski in blue yellow yet. I expect that we will see more than a glimpse of the future national team profiles at home at Friends in the qualifying final against the Faroe Islands on Monday.

The European Summer 2020 can be a new blue-yellow endgame party.