Post by wanderingstar78 on Apr 25, 2016 12:23:15 GMT -5
letsnikolposts.tumblr.com/post/75580236231/swedens-match-against-austria-would-be-the-acid
Sweden’s match against Austria would be the acid test for the Swedish national audience. The result was exactly what we all hoped for. This is thanks to many unsung heroes - and an extremely well known one.
When Sweden had it hardest in the first half against Austria, a thundering song started from the blue and yellow section on the south bleachers. It spread to the section behind the players’ benches. But then it died.
There sat the old soccer players, agents, more or less familiar faces and other specially invited people. A section where you sit down, behave and don’t stand out. A section that can symbolize how the Swedish national audience behaved at home over the years. Up until yesterday.
In the VIP grandstand was a Swedish actor’s earnings. When the song was about to peter out, so stood up Alexander Skarsgård with the obvious residual cheering ethics he got from growing up in Stockholm’s southern parts.
They looked like a sea of seated, quiet people, and among them a man who stood proudly with hands pointing to the sky screaming his heart out in support of the players on the pitch. The seated people could not miss it. A seed was planted. Someone had broken the ice. Next time they were also up.
It feels like we Swedes are born with a fear to stand out or perhaps an extreme desire to fit in. Something that has become a symbol for the Swedish national audience. On away ground, when we do not know the neighbor’s eyes in the back, we release all inhibitions. At home we complain of bad press but dare not grab it and try to change. But if Alexander Skarsgård can do it, then all should dare.
All eyes were on the Hollywood star. Whispered, photographed, and gossip. Every time he stood up, an entire row behind the 37-year-old took pictures of his rump with their cellphone cameras. With the imaginary thought we all seem to have that it’s embarrassing to stand up and shout against a football pitch should Skarsgård have made a fool of himself. But he was the one who dared, had fun and actually helped the players on the pitch. He did all the things that makes it so great to go on the football team.
www.aftonbladet.se
Sweden’s match against Austria would be the acid test for the Swedish national audience. The result was exactly what we all hoped for. This is thanks to many unsung heroes - and an extremely well known one.
When Sweden had it hardest in the first half against Austria, a thundering song started from the blue and yellow section on the south bleachers. It spread to the section behind the players’ benches. But then it died.
There sat the old soccer players, agents, more or less familiar faces and other specially invited people. A section where you sit down, behave and don’t stand out. A section that can symbolize how the Swedish national audience behaved at home over the years. Up until yesterday.
In the VIP grandstand was a Swedish actor’s earnings. When the song was about to peter out, so stood up Alexander Skarsgård with the obvious residual cheering ethics he got from growing up in Stockholm’s southern parts.
They looked like a sea of seated, quiet people, and among them a man who stood proudly with hands pointing to the sky screaming his heart out in support of the players on the pitch. The seated people could not miss it. A seed was planted. Someone had broken the ice. Next time they were also up.
It feels like we Swedes are born with a fear to stand out or perhaps an extreme desire to fit in. Something that has become a symbol for the Swedish national audience. On away ground, when we do not know the neighbor’s eyes in the back, we release all inhibitions. At home we complain of bad press but dare not grab it and try to change. But if Alexander Skarsgård can do it, then all should dare.
All eyes were on the Hollywood star. Whispered, photographed, and gossip. Every time he stood up, an entire row behind the 37-year-old took pictures of his rump with their cellphone cameras. With the imaginary thought we all seem to have that it’s embarrassing to stand up and shout against a football pitch should Skarsgård have made a fool of himself. But he was the one who dared, had fun and actually helped the players on the pitch. He did all the things that makes it so great to go on the football team.
www.aftonbladet.se