Swedes' recipe for success

Erik Hamrén and his players may not yet be in Kyiv, but some members of the Sweden coach's backroom staff have already joined team reporter Sujay Dutt in the Ukrainian capital.

Well, I have arrived in Kyiv, and am raring to go. I am sure the Swedish team are too, though they still have the finishing touches to put to their preparations before heading for the Ukrainian capital.

Some members of Erik Hamrén's backroom staff have already arrived in Kyiv

I am not the only one to arrive in the Ukrainian capital earlier than Erik Hamrén and his players, though. Yesterday brought the arrival of Sweden's team manager Lars Richt, kit manager Roger Jacobsson and chef Mats Broström. The trio is on hand to make sure that everything works as it should at the media centre and at the team hotel.

Richt told the daily newspaper Expressen that "the main concern has been the internet. If the internet isn't in working order, then the players aren't in working order." Exchanging the word "players" for "reporters" would have been just as true. Thankfully, this particular scribe is fully satisfied with the connection.

I also remember chef Broström giving journalists a tour of his premises at the team hotel four years ago in Lugano. Members of the press got to smell the products of Broström's handiwork – involving only the freshest produce and condiments. The players who actually got to tuck in to Broström's meals looked blissfully content.

In 2008, there was not much contentment in the camp when it came to results, though. Twelve of the 23 players in this year's squad will be playing their first final tournament at senior level, which could that mean that there is more hunger in the squad this time around. On the pitch, of course – Broström guarantees against the other kind.

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