Lars Lagerback Quotations

We heard now and again the result from the Italy game but I didn't hear about the final result until the end of our match.

Of course I am very satisfied - to win seven games and lose one is rather good isn't it.

I think we had a very good game, playing on this level equal with the Dutch team. It was a really good match and it could have gone either way.

It is always very difficult to assess the value of individuals but there is no doubt that Henrik will have a huge positive influence for us. He is also a great influence on the squad, the morale of the squad. His return is a very positive factor for us.

We wanted to have an opponent who will take the game seriously.

This year we want to have both matches at home and avoid long journeys. It is good that we have got the Finland game sorted out and now we have to decide who will be the opponent for the other match.

We had a bad day at work. I don't think we've had such a day since 1998 when we started versus Spain, but respect to Ireland - they were much more aggressive, much more concentrated and we did not play as a team.

We had a bad day at work. I don't think we've had such a day since 1998 against Spain. Ireland were more concentrated and more aggressive than we were. We didn't play as a team.

We don't want to set a time when he has to arrive (in Budapest). We'll wait and see.

Every team in this situation would have done the same, I think we can go away from this match with our heads held high.

Practically, it is a done deal. If you said anything else, you would be lying. But at the same time we are not there yet.

Psychologically, it was important that we scored the goal. Then the players could relax but try to control the match. England also missed some good players.

Perhaps he stays in Italy and so learned from Machiavelli. We want to play to win this game. It's not a question of playing for a 2-2 draw so Italy will be out and to reach the second stage. We are going to play our game.

Of course you feel extra pity for Tommy ending with losing on penalties. In a way it's always easier to lose a game when the other team is better and you can accept it afterward. So it was pity for Tommy, an extra pity.

It's an important game for us, the first time all the professional players are called. Ireland has a good side with a new manager and will give us a great game. They will play a strong game and it's vital to us to have a good performance. The result is of secondary importance.

They are good opponents with a style of play like (our World Cup opponents) Trinidad & Tobago and Paraguay. It will be extra fun to give the crowd a completely new opponent, since we've never ever faced them before.

They will have some smaller problems to restart the competition. Perhaps it is more a question of mental fatigue.

I can assure the Italians that we will do absolutely our best and go out to win the match because anything can happen if you go out to play for a draw. We will be 100 percent concentrated.

He and his girlfriend are expecting their first child and he is still in Sweden because the child is expected any day.