One Celtic star has been criticised over his performances at the World Cup. We are now entering the business end of the World Cup group stages, and we will find out between now and Sunday who will advance and who will head home.
It's looking like Scotland will be heading home after their 3-0 defeat to Brazil on Wednesday night. The goal damage from that defeat means the Tartan Army need a miracle to finish as one of the best eight third-place teams, already on the edge of dropping out with nine groups still to play their final games.
Another team who need a result in their last game is Sweden, who won their first game but then were hammered 5-1 by the Netherlands. Graham Potter's men are now third in their group with three points ahead of a clash with a very good-looking Japan side.
Sweden can progress automatically with a win, while a draw will get them over the line as one of the best third-place teams. But when it comes to going through with a defeat, it's a very similar position to where Scotland found themselves, needing to lose by a narrow scoreline, given their goal difference is currently zero.
Sweden criticism ramps up
Strangely, Sweden have now won 5-1 and lost 5-1, but they have come in for real criticism on the back of their heavy defeat to the Netherlands. Graham Potter is going to have to find a way to turn things around and get his men feeling confident again after the bruising defeat.
Japan drew with the Netherlands and made easy work of Tunisia, so they are going to be tricky opponents with their high-energy approach and excellent fitness level.
But in the meantime, the Swedish media are turning one some of the players, and FotbolDirekt's Fredrik de Ron has singled out Celtic star Benjamin Nygren. He said: "That midfield doesn’t work. Playing with Benjamin Nygren as some kind of ‘ten’ or trailing striker, that’s not possible! I don’t understand why people continue to insist on it.
“I have nothing against Nygren as a footballer, he is great, but in this way of playing there is no place for him.”
It will be interesting to see what Potter does with Nygren for the next game. Sweden would be wise to play conservatively, at least in the first half, and the Celtic attacker could miss out because of that.
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