Before Wednesday’s victory over Poland, Euro 2020 had been a frustrating tournament for the Swedish prodigy Dejan Kulusevski.
If Covid did not strike during the tournament, the 21-year-old – who came in at the back of a wonderful breakthrough season with Juventus – would have been in Janne Andersson’s plans for their opening match with Spain.
But he stayed and watched the match at home in Sweden when his side choked the world champions and started the tournament with one point.
A negative test in the days leading up to their conflict with Slovakia meant that he could join the squad, but after having only two training sessions with his teammates, he was left on the bench. He had to sit on his hands when they strived for a convincing victory over the place that was ranked as 36th in the world, and even if it was enough to essentially send Sweden into the quarterfinals, you can forgive Kulusevski for having a certain frustration that he had so far did not matter.
When he finally came off the bench, 55 minutes into their last match against Poland, these frustrations came to boil in the most productive way imaginable.
• Dejan Kulusevski • Juventus • Swedish • 21 years old
With Ibrahimovic not on his way to the tournament, Kulusevski will take on the role of Sweden’s talisman and he will have a great responsibility. ✊
Welcome to our 21, @KulusevskiDejan! ??
– 90min (@ 90min_Football) June 7, 2021
In a few moments it became clear that Sweden with Kulusevski on the side was a completely different perspective. They led through Emil Forsberg’s early strike, but the sluggish rhythm they had entered gave way to an explosive, driving desire to add to the scoreboard and end the group game with a bang.
This was led by Kulusevski, who within minutes of entering the game had driven the entire length of the pitch to register an assist. He competed on a loose ball deep inside the Swedish half and overpowered Przemyslaw Frankowski before galloping forward, bambooing Jan Bednarek and passing one to Forsberg.
The latter stroked in his second match, but he was not in the mood to sunbathe in his own wonderful finish. Instead, he went straight to Kulusevski and congratulated him on one of the best assistants you are likely to see at Euro 2020.
???????? ???? ?? ?????! #SWE goes two against #POL #ITVFootball | # Euro2020 pic.twitter.com/N2hlEBIG5B
– ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 23, 2021
It turned out to be a false start for Sweden, who were on the ropes and hung back by a wonderful double from Robert Lewandowski who threatened their status as group winners.
On the form shown in the first two matches, you may have expected Sweden to sit and take the points. But with an undefeated Kulusevski on the field, they could not have done it if they had tried.
Poland obviously feared the threat he posed – since he came in he had already made more important passes than the rest of Sweden’s team combined – so when he got the ball at the edge of the box, there were three players on him in an instant.
Did he panic during the press? You should know the answer now.
2 – Dejan Kulusevski (21y 059d) is the youngest player to have scored two goals in a single game at the European Championships since Cesc Fàbregas (21y 053d) against Russia in 2008. Catalyst. # EURO2020 #SWE pic.twitter.com/j24YuJTM9V
– OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 23, 2021
The fact that half of Poland’s defense was drawn against him freed up space for Viktor Claesson behind, and without even looking, Kulusevski dropped a perfectly weighed ball in his feet. It was impossible not to finish from there, and with 90 minutes on the clock, Sweden had lost Spain to the top spot.
Sweden looked like a solid, disciplined tournament team when they came through the first two matches unscathed, but they lacked a spark. But Kulusevski’s arrival on stage really ignited them for 35 minutes against Poland, and with two assists to his name already, he could be the difference between a passive 16-out and a famous run deep into the tournament.
They only have to take things one match at a time, and Ukraine next is no gimmick for the Swedes. But now their talisman has finally come to the big stage, it looks like they are packing quite a bit.
