Emil Forsberg has been catching the eye of some of Europe’s leading clubs while starring for RB Leipzig, and Monday saw him get a chance to shine on the world’s biggest stage.
But on his World Cup debut, Forsberg showed off other aspects of his game, with his work ethic and effort helping Sweden to a 1-0 win.
Here’s a closer look at his performance.
KEY STATS
Goals – 0
Assists – 0
Shots – 4
Shots on target – 0
Key passes – 0
Passing accuracy – 87%
Dribbles – 1
Touches – 54
30-SECOND REPORT
Forsberg is capable of lighting up games on his best days. However, Monday was one of those games where, instead of grabbing headlines with starring moments, it was his graft that helped his team to victory.
He fell short in terms of producing the telling passes and fluffed his lines with presentable scoring opportunities – and on another day that profligacy could cost Sweden. But tireless effort when not at your best is a valuable commodity, and that’s exactly what Forsberg provided.
GOT RIGHT
His passing was neat and composed as Sweden saw the majority of possession. He was quick to find his team-mates when the defensive attention was too much to shrug off, showcasing a valuable level of maturity and decision-making.
Forsberg was also a key part of Sweden’s rearguard, helping out in defence whenever required. It was a level of effort that would have been much appreciated by his team-mates, as together they repelled South Korea’s more threatening attacks.
GOT WRONG
Forsberg fell short of providing the incision he is capable of, failing to pull off the sort of pass that leads to a gilt-edged chance for a teammate. Indeed, statistically speaking, he created zero chances on Monday, an unusual occurrence from the player who is looked upon as Sweden’s chief creative force.
He also seemingly forgot his shooting boots, as he was unable to test the South Korea keeper despite being given a couple of decent, presentable chances to do so.
KEY MOMENTS
49th minute SHOT: Sweden broke at pace from a quickly-taken free-kick, and the ball made its way to Forsberg on the edge of the box. His shot was high and wide when he should have done better.
VERDICT
Forsberg will be the first to admit that he’s capable of delivering more than he did on Monday. His creative threat was nowhere near its most potent, and Sweden will require a better performance on that front in other games.
But with a work ethic like his, Forsberg showed that there’s more than one way to have an impact. His graft and effort were valuable aspects of a hard-fought and well-deserved Sweden win.
RATING – 6/10
