I have to be honest I have often found the hysteria around Zlatan Ibrahimovic really over the top in Sweden. There is no dispute that he is one of the worlds best strikers but does he really deserve all the column inches he gets in the media?
On Tuesday I was disappointed to check out the Dagens Nyheter sport section only to find Zlatan on the front page and tucked inside was the news on the exciting Allsvenskan games from the evening before. DIF and GAIS fought out a draw, Bromma got done by Örgryte, Tony fired by Bajen. These stories commanded so little attention compared to a game which was played over 2000 kms away?
OK I know its a Swedish player who left these shores to play for European giants but did Freddy Ljungberg of Arsenal get the same coverage? I think the Allsvenskan is a good league with some exciting games but the press is doing very little in promoting the Swedish game if all they can bang on about is Zlatan and the Premiership.
What about the Swedish game journos? I see way too many kids wearing the tops of English clubs than I do Allsvenskan ones. The media should be promoting Swedish football more than they do.
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{ 13 comments }
Yes, Freddie got the same amount of press back in his day. The difference is that he’s about as charming and fun as a dead herring, whereas Zlatan is a w e s o m e in every aspect. Very un-Swedish if you will!
Very unswedish I agree.
Does it worry you though how much the foreign game is plugged in the press at the expense of the Swedish game?
Ok we know the quality is nowhere near that of the Prem or La Liga but its still an exciting fun league. Nothing wrong with having a Premier or Spanish team of course but I speak to so many people who ‘support’ Man U for instance yet never go to any Allsvenskan games.
I feel really sad for the Swedish game sometimes.
Spot on Shane!
In general there is not such a thing as “support your local team” in Sweden. I bet there are more people supporting ManU than any swedish club in this country. Boring glory hunters. Because of that (I recon) there is more interest in writing articles about “our” players abroad instead of promoting Allsvenskan. But you should know that Allsvenskan got much more attention nowadays than e.g 10-15 years ago. Spekaing of media, there is also focus on teams from Stockholm and Solna. So you are lucky there supporting bajen. Remeber one week ago or so, when the headlines was about the crisis in DIF and nothing about the 3 games in Allsvenskan the other day. Now, that’s pathetic in national press. And, that’s no news either about DIF.
Speaking of Zlatan…couldn’t care less. He’s a filthy malm* tw**
No, give us articles about Magic daps aka Trunds
Wow could you imagine Trundle playing in front of the passionate support..he would really feed off that for sure! Shame we could never afford his salary and kebab bill
I hadnt noticed a Stockholm bias, I always assumed that the DN I get in Stockholm is different from the one you get in HBG. Bit like the Wales (sorry Cardiff) on Sunday then mate
Somethings dont change!
I like Allsvenskan, ok not happy with Bajens situation but its a good league to go and watch. I have to say I do like living where I do as I do see a lot of kids with Bajen stuff ( as I am sure there are Solna kids wearing AIK stuff before someone starts
but the tendency is definitely Chelski, Man U, Barca, its a shame that they dont realise there is decent football on their doorstep.
Agree! The press in Sweden is a joke. They always nag on the Swedish clubs to be better, to qualify for international tournaments and so on. And when they do, all there is in the paper is a notis (english word?) with the result and goal scorers. Just embarrasing.
And the thing about foreign clubs is correct, when I grew up we were always fighting about Hammarby, aik and djugården. I don’t think it’s like that anymore. The kids talk about if Ronaldo is better than Zlatan, if Barcelona is better than Madrid. Especially amongst immigrant kids, the Swedish kids still have their favourite Swedish team, always battering about Hammarby, aik and djurgåden.
You should’ve seen the papers a couple of years ago (2001-2006), the papers were filled to the limit with Allsvenskan.
I am just glad we dont see the word soccer too much.
And A few weeks back, I saw an article about Kerry Katona (in a swedish newspaper) …. what is she doing to get into the swedish press?
Well, the papers have never been filled (at least not as much as I want) with Allsvenskan. The reason why 2001-2006 was better, was beacause teams from Stockholm did well in the league. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a moaning farmer from the south (hmm Europe). It’s just a very interesting coinsidence…
No wonder we would prefer playing in the dansih SAS league
So many complains about the bad standard of our football. But what happens when swedish clubs play in europe against good teams? Well, then we play in front of smaller crowds than in Allsvenskan. So these moaners stay at home when the good football is coming. How pathetic isn’t that? Here in Helsingborg 12 000 can go and see HIF-Häcken and only 6500 when we play against really good clubs such as PSV Eindhoven. And it’s the same for all clubs here. I bet this is a little bit better in Sthlm, but in general swedes are really bad supporters. No passion at all. I think it’s a cultural thing. Being a supporter means that you go and support your club no matter which team they may play against.
Interesting you mention no passion because I think the whole TIFO thing is amazing over here. I think those who are truly fans of their club really put their heart and soul into it, well certainly at Hammarby. Never heard a fanbase sing so much considering how shit we have been this season.
Shane, bajen has one of the most passionate supporters in Sweden and you know that. I’m speaking in general terms. Almost all clubs in Allsvenaskan got passionate supporters. But the greatest difference is that it’s so devided in Sweden. Either you are the common spectator that acts if he or she is at the theater (silent and political correct) or you are the hardcore super passionate supporter. I know this is a little bit better in Stockholm, than the rest of the country, but it’s still a difference from the culture that you find in UK, Germany etc. It’s not normal in sweden to stand up for your team and sing at games. I hate the swedish word “klack” as it refers to something that’s supposed to entertain the crowds. It’s so swedish! The singing, TIFO and so on are supposed to be created by others. Otherwise you will stand out from the “normal” crowd. And to stand out is the worst thing for a swedish person.
The point I’m tryning to show is that in Sweden we are so concerned about what people might think of us. This shows in the football culture. In other countries you support your team and are not afraid of showing it. If you do that in Sweden you could be seen as a mental deranged hooligan. Another common thing is that it’s OK to sing at games until you are 25. After that you are supposed to have grown up.
If you go to any game in UK you will find people in the 50′s singing and showing their support. In sweden these are 1 in a 10 000.
Cyril, you hit upon something important with that comment.
I have often thought that Swedes at football are very different from the Swedes they are during the day! Maybe its a group thing, maybe Swedes are better when they are judged as a group than as an individual..maybe remnants of jantelagen.
The whole TIFO thing amazes me, those guys put so much into those banners. It does seem they are sometimes wanting to be judged on that more than how their team performs….
I still need to do a HeIF game, hopefully next year if we stay up I can make the away match.
Shane, you’re welcome to Helsingborg any day to a proper HIF game. I’ll buy you all the beer you want. Don’t want to start the discussion about HIF, but you support Hammarby aka Bajen and I support Helsingborg aka HIF. Try http://www.hif.se etc. OK?
Anyway, having “problems” here. Trying to get tickets to Swans-card*** nov 7:th and realises that HIF might be in the swedish cup final that day… This final will probably be the only thing we can win this year so it’s a match that’s a must…well IF we first of all beat IFK at home in the semifinal. Ahh why should the swedish football asosiation change dates from september 26:th…
But a welsh derby could be a good consolation if IFK wins the semifinal. I guess this is just a what we would call in sweden “i-landsproblem)
Hahahaha.
The BEST way to irritate a Helsingborg supporter is to write HeIF. Works every time! Nice one Shane
I m learning fast Daniel
I know what you mean Cyril, I haven’t been to the worlds most passionate derby in a long time. I love em but I am too old for all the shit that usually goes with it.
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