Ludwig Augustinsson was allowed to start again for Sweden. From his left-back position, however, the role has changed slightly, where he is exposed to more situations centrally in the play-off phase.
– It's a bit new, but it's something I like, he says.

Jon Dahl Tomasson's Swedish national team took their first victory under the Dane's management. One of the starting players in Sweden was the experienced left back Ludwig Augustinsson. The left-back was satisfied with the team's progress and the effort against Albania, where they won 1-0.

– It felt more stable today than the last match and it was nice that we won and kept a clean sheet. There are positive parts and things we can do better too, but I still think it was a step forward. But we continue to work, says “Ludde” to EM-fotboll.se and continues:

– You always want to win matches and especially at home. Then we will win, I think. Albania is a good team going to the EC and has beaten good nations before. They are also skilled but on the whole I think we are doing solidly.

Ludwig Augustinsson is still left back in the national team, but the role is a little different. In the build-up phase and in the attacking game, he has become more of an “inverted wing-back” where he can collect the ball centrally rather than widening on his edge. But it also differs defensively with a little more “man-to-man play”.

– It's a different role than the one I had before, so I try to catch up as much as possible. Of course not everything is perfect but it has felt stable so far but hopefully it will get even better with time together. We see a lot together and will get better, he tells EM-fotboll.se.

In two games and three training sessions, Ludwig Augustinsson thinks that he is getting more and more into the new role he got from Jon Dahl Tomasson. It gives a bit more ball in other types of areas, where previously he usually got the ball as a wide full-back along the line but where he now has to come more into the middle to provide support to the central midfielders, while at the same time it opens up areas for the outside midfielder in the Swedish team.

– It is a bit new to come into the middle and overload offensively, but it is something that I like but also something that you have to get used to. There are more players around you when you get the ball centrally. It's been a while since I played like that, in my youth, but I feel pretty confident with the ball. But it's something you have to get used to. Jon wants us to be brave and receive the ball in surfaces that you may not always have been comfortable in, to develop and to be brave. It feels like we have taken a step there, says Augustinsson.

You were very broad in Janne Andersson's system. It feels like a huge difference.

– Yes, but really. In the way we have to control the match and stop so as not to go on too many counterattacks and get into the field. I think it's very developing and exciting, a fun role.

So the years as a central midfielder in Brommapojkarna, in the youth years, have helped you a bit?

– Yes, but it was still until I was 13 or something like that. But it's clear: if you've been there in the middle a bit before, it's clear that it makes things easier. But at the same time it was 15 years ago, or maybe more…, says “Ludde” to EM-fotboll.se and laughs.

Updated March 25, 2024