Gelendzhik: Sweden’s players have put a turbulent 36 hours behind them and are ready to take on Mexico in a game they must win to advance to the knockout stages of the World Cup.
After losing in the closing minutes to Germany and seeing their winger Jimmy Durmaz subjected to a storm of racial hatred on social media, the players and staff presented a united front as they packed their bags before heading to Ekaterinburg to meet Mexico.
“We were a strong group from day one, and obviously this can help. We were clear after the match that this (the abuse of Durmaz) was unacceptable ... We backed him up in a good way, together,” defender Pontus Jansson said.
Racial abuse and threats against Durmaz were reported to the Swedish police by the FA on behalf of the player, and the Swedes want to put the incident and the Germany loss behind them.
“It (the Mexico match) is like a last 16 game, we know we have to win to go through. We’re not nervous, it’s more that it’s a great task to have,” Jansson said.
