In the 19th attempt, Sweden's national football team finally kept a clean sheet. Romania was defeated away with 1–0.
Thus ended a Nations League gathering that had been a time of chaos. A pandemic of injury and disease. With that in mind, it's quite sensational how it looked on the pitch.
Three wins and a draw in four games.
Above all, national team captain Graham Potter has brought a sense of calm to the team. Security in the squad. A stability in the game.
A year ago there was no defense at all. For a year, Potter has been patching up and fixing a sinking ship. A team that was a joke when Potter arrived is now a national team that creates faith in the future.
Sweden's team was in shambles. Without management, without direction. Now the word together is no longer a national team phrase but a key to success.
Illness and injury did their part to demolish Graham Potter's national team build before and during this gathering. Several given names were gone even before the squad was taken out and during the journey to the final station in Bucharest, 13 players had disappeared.
Above all, Graham Potter has de-dramatized one of sport's most charged words.
Still, that hasn't stopped Graham Potter from rotating healthy. The starting XIs have changed from match to match. Players have gone in and out.
Above all, Graham Potter has de-dramatized one of sport's most charged words:
Petting.
The players have learned that there is a fine line between being in or out of the squad before a rally. The players have had to feel how thin the line is between starting or being a substitute at kick-off.
And regardless of whether the players have been in or out of the game before, starters or benched, they have always been as mentally ready as tactically prepared when given the chance.
Felix Beijmo could make an equally good debut now.
Players have been poked before or during the World Cup but important now. Players have been benched last week but then stepped right in and performed well.
That the players managed it shows impressive leadership by Potter. I can't remember a Swedish national football team showing a better width.
At right back, four different players have started in four games. Potter realized that Hampus Skoglund had been given a short time to recover from his fine debut last time. So Felix Beijmo had to make an equally good debut now.
Lucas Bergvall was not allowed to start last time but took the chance now. Bergvall mixes and gives. A sloppy cut in a dangerous position in their own half was followed up by a brilliant read and neat break that laid the foundation for the goal in the 13th minute.
The ball ended up with Besfort Zeneli, it passed to Alexander Bernhardsson who dotted Sebastian Nanasi with a cross. Nanasi hit the post and on the rebound Viktor Gyökeres did what he does in the Nations League.
With goals in four straight matches (and in seven straight Nations League matches), Gyökeres showed that he is clearly Sweden's most important player.
Team captain Victor Nilsson Lindelöf has been a rock throughout the collection.
Sebastian Nanasi made an impressive effort in the first half. Gabriel Gudmundsson was cruel as long as he could.
And team captain Victor Nilsson Lindelöf has been a rock throughout the collection. We've seen what he's done on the pitch, I think he's meant just as much off it considering how new players have constantly flowed into the team.
Sweden was at its best when the team showed what captain "Vigge" talked about before the match. That the players trust each other more in the game. When they dared to let the ball go within the team, the players showed what Sweden is up to.
This was far from a perfect match.
More direct action in the attacking game would have given more clear scoring chances. Careless losses of the ball produced unnecessary conversion situations. Just lifting the ball up to Viktor Gyökeres didn't work as well as it usually does.
This time, however, it was as if the players had made up their minds.
Romania started the match last in the group with zero points and minus nine on goal difference after three games.
But Romania dominated the game alarmingly for 20 minutes in the second half. The Swedish players were tired. The game crashed. Legs cramping.
This time, however, it was as if the players had made up their minds. They would not concede a goal. Viktor Johansson would have to keep a clean sheet.
With heart, pain and collective strength, Sweden got up and was able to comfortably control the victory in the last minutes.
Graham Potter has a nice luxury problem to contend with.
It is already easy to look forward to November 14th. Bosnia-Herzegovina comes to Solna. Then Potter's project can secure the group victory.
And Graham Potter has a nice luxury problem to contend with. Players now thrown in as reserves will not be easy to keep out when the next national team squad needs to be nailed down.
Read more here:
Viktor Gyökeres saved Sweden - broke the dark streak
