Defiant Potter defends Hien after Sweden defensive collapse
· CNA · JoinRead a summary of this article on FAST.
Get bite-sized news via a new
cards interface. Give it a try.
Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST
FAST
June 22 : Sweden coach Graham Potter gave an impassioned statement of support for captain and centre back Isak Hien, who came in for severe criticism following Saturday's 5-1 World Cup Group F defeat by the Netherlands.
The first three goals the Swedes conceded against the Dutch all came from balls driven across the face of goal, prompting criticism of Hien's defending.
"I love Isak Hien. I don't care what anybody says - if I'm here, he's playing," Potter told a news conference at the team's training base on Monday.
"As far as I'm concerned, it's a blame game. It's the world we're in, that somebody wants to blame. If everybody wants anybody to blame, it should be me, it's not him - he's absolutely doing everything he can to represent his country in the best way, and he gets dog's abuse because someone scores."
CNA Games
Guess Word
Crack the word, one row at a time
Buzzword
Create words using the given letters
Mini Sudoku
Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser
Mini Crossword
Small grid, big challenge
Word Search
Spot as many words as you can
Show More
Show Less
The Swedes made a flying start to their World Cup campaign with a 5-1 win over Tunisia, only to lose to the Dutch by the same scoreline in a game in which little seemed to go right for the 27-year-old Hien.
"No-one sees the other errors before him - my errors, the other players' errors, and it (criticising Hien) just feels nice because you're in pain after the defeat, which I understand social media is all about. When you lose a game of football, everyone's in pain, everyone's hurting. You guys are hurting, everyone's social media is hurting, our fans are hurting," Potter said.
"And then they push the blame to him, and then it makes them feel a little bit better, but the reality of it is, it's more complicated than that. And like I said, I love Isak Hien, I love what he's been for the team with me. We win and we lose together as a team."
Ahead of their final group game against Japan, Sweden are third in Group F on three points, one behind leaders the Netherlands and second-placed Japanese. Tunisia are bottom of the group with no points and have been eliminated from the tournament.
Newsletter
Recommended Read
Subscribe to CNA's Recommended Read
A single handpicked story that we think you shouldn't miss. Just one a day.
Sign up for our newsletters
Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox
Get the CNA app
Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories
Get WhatsApp alerts
Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app