‘Everything just sucks’: Victor Lindelof comments after Sweden defeat

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World Cup quarter-finalists in 2018, Sweden will not be in Qatar 2022 after losing their play-off to Poland.

Robert Lewandowski scored a penalty to give Poland the lead before Piotr Zielinski put the result beyond doubt.

Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof had an opportunity to score an equaliser at 1-0 but his header could not find the back of the net.

This crushing defeat is a tough one for Sweden to take, and United youngster Anthony Elanga was on the losing side too, playing the final 24 minutes of the defeat.

‘I do not understand’

Lindelof spoke after the game, quoted by Fotboll Skanalen, and was downbeat after the elimination.

The United star said: “Right now I do not understand how we lose this match, quite honestly. In the first half we play well. Even after their first goal, I think we do it okay. But after their second goal, I think we collapse a bit.

“I do not know, it’s just sour. It felt like we had the upper hand against them. We even said that when we came in at half time. We felt we had the upper hand both physically and with the ball. But it was not our day today. 

“It is small margins that decide, coincidences. There are two goals that we should not concede. It is a punishment and the second goal we should not let in either. But that’s what happens, it’s football. But right now, everything just sucks.”

This is the first tournament Lindelof has missed out on with Sweden since he broke into the team, and the defeat comes at a tough time for him.

Manchester United have been going through a torrid time and are coming off a Champions League exit which consigns the club to yet another season without silverware.

While some of his United teammates like the Portugal contingent have gone away with their countries and got a much-needed boost, Lindelof has gone onto experience more heartbreak.

United will have to assess his mental state upon his return and see if he is up to starting this weekend against Leicester. An extra rest on the sidelines may do him good, although Lindelof will no doubt be keen to get straight back out there.

Lindelof was one of just two Sweden players to be given a 3/5 rating on the night for his performance by FotbollSkanalen, with the rest of his teammates scoring 2 or lower.