The pressure is immense at major tournaments, says Kallstrom

Sweden midfielder Kim Kallstrom believes that internal conflicts are bound to arise within any team during major competitions.

The Lyon star thinks that minor complaints can turn into major conflicts due to the pressure at tournaments and gave the example of France's World Cup 2010 meltdown as an example of the unrest that can occur during an international competition.

"The tension is incredible," he told reporters at a press conference. "It is a very special scenario for two weeks.

SUPER SWEDES
19/10 Sweden are 19/10 with bet365 to beat Ukraine in their oeping match of Euro 2012.



"You have to deal with a congested match schedule and at the same time everything is brought to a head.

"You completely live in a bubble, you have no contact with the outside world and the same time the pressure just gets bigger and bigger. You just want to win all the time.

"I think it was the reason behind the chaos within the French camp in 2010.

"They had lived in a bubble for so long and then small problems which they had failed to deal with for years and years just grew bigger and bigger and in the end exploded in the coach's face.

"It is difficult to explain if you have not experienced it because life in such a camp is so different from everyday life."

Olof Mellberg, who was involved in a bust-up with Fredrik Ljungberg prior to the World Cup in 2002, agreed with the notion that internal problems are frequent in competitions like this.

"We have had plenty of internal incidents over the years due to players who were not happy that they were not playing," the Olympiakos defender explained.

"Those things are inevitable in a squad, especially when you come to a championship where you have to be together for a long time.

"There could be thousands of reasons for a conflict: perhaps you had a difficult trip to your destination or the hotel is not up to standard; perhaps the food is poor, the bed is too soft or you are disappointed because you did not get to play.

"It is inevitable but you just have to try to calm down."

Sweden will kick off their Euro campaign against Ukraine on Monday before taking on England and France.

Loading...

Comments on Yahoo! pages are subject to our link to Comments Guidelines. You are responsible for any content that you post. Yahoo! is not responsible or liable in any way for comments posted by its users. Yahoo! does not in any way endorse or support comments made by its users.

  • What Happens Now to the Opposition and Change? Bull Bashing

    By Kee Thuan Chye Now that the 13th general election (GE13) is over and Najib Razak has been sworn in as prime minister and his Cabinet has been formed, what happens to the Opposition Pakatan Rakyat and the massive numbers … Continue reading →

  • Umat Islam diberitahu ‘haram’ untuk membantah tanpa mengikut saluran yang sah The Malaysian Insider
    Umat Islam diberitahu ‘haram’ untuk membantah tanpa mengikut saluran yang sah

    Oleh Amin IskandarPenolong Pengarang Berita KUALA LUMPUR, 17 Mei — Umat Islam di Malaysia diberitahu haram bagi mereka untuk menderhaka dan memerangi pemerintah seperti membantah tanpa mengikut saluran yang sah kata khutbah Jumaat hari ini.

  • New home minister tells unhappy Malaysians to emigrate The Edge

    PETALING JAYA (MAY 16): Newly-appointed Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Malaysians who are unhappy with the country’s political system should leave the country, stressing that loyal citizens should respect the rule of law.

  • Pelakon lelaki terkenal ditangkap khalwat oleh JAIS Bernama

    SHAH ALAM, 16 Mei (Bernama) -- Seorang pelakon lelaki terkenal tempatanditangkap khalwat oleh sepasukan pegawai Bahagian Penguatkuasa Jabatan AgamaIslam Selangor (Jais) di sebuah unit Apartment Taman Sri Subang di sini awalhari ini.Pelakon berusia 25 tahun itu, yang pernah bertunang pada Disember tahunlepas, ditahan pada 3.30 pagi selepas pasukan penguatkuasa mendapat maklumatdaripada orang awam.Pengarah Jais Datuk Marzuki Hussin, dalam satu kenyataan hari ini,mengesahkan bahawa pelakon itu,

  • Anwar criticises new Cabinet line-up at rally ANN

    Johor Baru (The Star/ANN) - Malaysia's Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has criticised the new Cabinet line-up, questioning the decision to pick Hindraf chairman P. Waythamoorthy as deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department.