All Whites v Sweden | Sat 17th June | 5:00am NZT | Friends Arena, Stockholm

one thing i'll add to the good analysis in this thread is that, if you are looking to play out from the back, you must have players positioned for the likelihood that a defensive transition is required. 

frequently, when we coughed it up, we were very open and vulnerable.

reg22

one thing i'll add to the good analysis in this thread is that, if you are looking to play out from the back, you must have players positioned for the likelihood that a defensive transition is required. 

frequently, when we coughed it up, we were very open and vulnerable.

which is a shame as we don't want any of our central midfielders having to sit back when we go forward - Bell and Stamenic are too technically talented and integral to be an anchor between the CBs

I think group wisdom is Sail could have done better with some of their goals. However, should we be saying the same about Libby when he got himself into the box twice, only to blaze over and due with the ball on the dribble?
He hit a nice drive on target later and a fantastic ball McCowatt just wasn’t able to guide home, but should a player of his class done better on the initial two chances? 

Sweden lost their qualifier against Austria away in Vienna this morning 2-0. None of the XI that started against the All Whites started, though midfielder Jesper Karlström came on at half time, two-goalscorer Jesper Karlsson in the 76th and added-time goalscorer Anthony Elanga and captain Viktor Claesson both in the 87th. 

Austria are now under the tutelage of Ralf Rangnick, of Manchester United, RB Leipzig, Lokomotiv Moskva, Schalke fame.

Could've been a fair bit worse too, Robin Olsen in goal made twelve saves for a combined xGOT of 3.16. Austria had 63% possession, 21 shots with fourteen on target and 2.07 xG. Sweden had only four shots with three on target for 0.30 xG. 

Does put Saturday's result in a bit more context, and that the All Whites still have a fair bit of way to go to be a truly competitive side against the bigger boys.