England play Sweden in Samara on Saturday in the World Cup quarter-final. Former Swedish international Hakan Mild has made staggeringly derisive and antithetical comments of the Three Lions.
World Cup Russia 2018 is universally triumphant. At a dazzling display of worldwide inclusivity, an underdog must have its day. Using bizarre stereotypes and disdainfully inaccurate slurs; a former Swedish player has attacked England’s national team in a juvenile attempt at psychological warfare. Good try, mate!
Hakan Mild had a rather mediocre career, hovering around the top of European football, never quite landing anywhere particularly decent. Completing 50 matches for Real Sociedad is his club highlight. Following long spells at Gothenburg, he also played for Wimbledon. Coming third at the 1994 World Cup with Sweden is his distinctive international achievement.
Gareth Southgate has a genuinely grounded and down-to-earth team of young professionals. Yes they are millionaires, but it is clear that they are not snobbish or aloof. A grounded, friendly, bonded squad, at one to achieve greatness is my impression.
In fact, the media cited just how relaxed and affable the squad are. Sky Sports showed this with their special: ‘Meet the England Squad’. Contrarily to Mild’s description of them as ‘spoilt‘.
Unintentionally inspirational
A quick conclusion after the Colombia match does not suffice. Southgate now has an inspiring ready-made mantra, derived from the ill-advised outburst. His squad should pin Mild’s words to their dressing room wall.
@GarethSouthgate - Gareth, if you haven’t already, paste the words of Hakan Mild about England being players being “spoilt” have “hubris” and “don’t have the total desperation to win” to the dressing room wall prior to kick-off against Sweden. It will make for an easy team-talk.
— Ash Black (@Zayyden) July 5, 2018
These are the terrifically paradoxical, almost satirical comments from Mild:
"“You don’t get afraid when you see this team. It suits Sweden well. England have just played a long, tough game with extra time and I also think they have a little bit of hubris. They think they are going to win and they will get an unpleasant surprise on Saturday. They think they are so good but they are not. It’s spoilt young people who make a ton of money. The English are easy to score against. They do not have the total determination required.” – Hakan Mild (Via: Daily Mirror)"
Twitter responds in kind
I literally checked all the mentions of Mild on Twitter at the time of writing. There was not one supportive tweet; not even from a Swede.
https://twitter.com/JezzaBruce/status/1014775290520915968?s=19
The Razor Ramon aka Scott Hall Gif below is a personal favourite.
https://twitter.com/188BET/status/1014458313097011201?s=19
England would never underestimate a nation; yet fear no team. While current Sweden defender Emil Krafth was more respectful of the England side. However, he still raised Swedish hopes: “England is a good team… we’re really good as a team.”
Next: Colombia's war of attrition
Has Mild made an additional error in inadvertently inspiring the Three Lions?