Sweden are still celebrating their resounding victory against Bulgaria although their
thoughts have also turned to Friday's Group C showdown with Italy.
Different test
With the 5-0 win at the Estˆhdio Josˆm
Alvalade being watched by 15,000 Swedish fans in Portugal and three million
television viewers back home, the players are well aware of the pressure on
their shoulders. Fredrik Ljungberg, who opened the scoring last night, said: "It
will be a different game against Italy. Their team is class through and through.
We don't feel any pressure, we will keep our feet on the ground and we know that
if we play well, we will be able to get a good result."
'Brilliant start'
Even if the Swedes are looking
ahead, two-goal hero Henrik Larsson still had time to look back. "Yes, we got a
fantastic result yesterday," said Larsson. "It was a brilliant start for us as a
team, even though we struggled a lot during the first 20 or 30 minutes, but at
the same time you have to remember that it's just a single game and we have to
focus on the next one now."
Defensive needs
Sweden's co-coaches Tommy Söderberg
and Lars Lagerbäck have urged caution among the squad, with the latter
particularly keen to tighten up at the back despite the clean sheet. Lagerbäck
said: "In the second half everything went very well, but there are a couple of
things we have to work on ahead of the match against Italy. We had some problems
in our defence and I don't think we can allow Italy the same space on Friday."
Lucic worry
Meanwhile, Teddy Lucic is a major doubt
after suffering a rib injury that forced him to be substituted in the 41st
minute by Christian Wilhelmsson. Team doctor Magnus Forsblad said: "We will have
to keep it under observation, and we will be able to check it closer when the
internal bleeding has stopped. If it is a fracture he will be out for a week or
so." Lucic is likely to be replaced at right-back by Mikael Nilsson, who
declared himself "very pleased" after impressing in that position while
Wilhelmsson moved into midfield.