http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/06/06/12/WORLDCUP_Sweden_Nightlead.htmlSWEDEN DISMISS DRESSING-ROOM SPAT
Sweden officials have played down the confrontation between Olof Mellberg and Fredrik Ljungberg following the disappointing goalless draw with Trinidad and Tobago.
The experienced Barclays Premiership duo were involved in an altercation in the Sweden dressing room minutes after the final whistle on Saturday, bringing back memories of the pair's heated training-ground bust-up during the 2002 World Cup.
That incident saw the players grappling on the ground after Ljungberg was floored by a hefty challenge by Mellberg.
However, Sweden press chief Thomas Saleteg has poured cold water on this latest spat.
"It was not a fight, but a short, but hot, dispute between some players. Two of those players were Mellberg and Ljungberg," Saleteg told Aftonbladet.
"It was a typical dressing-room situation, nothing serious."
The Sweden squad have come under fire from their fans and the country's media following the shock draw with tournament debutants Trinidad & Tobago.
Lars Lagerback's team failed to impress in their World Cup warm-up games and that form continued into the tournament last weekend.
Their hopes of reaching the knockout stages took a serious blow with the result and it appears nothing less than a victory will suffice in their second group game, against Paraguay on Thursday. Their final match in the group is against England on June 20.
One of the biggest criticisms levelled at Lagerback has been his decision to opt for Anders Svensson in the centre of midfield ahead of talented playmaker Kim Kallstrom, who has just signed for French champions Lyon from Rennes.
Svensson had a poor game on Saturday, and was replaced by Marcus Allback in the second half.
Kallstrom, who came off the bench with 11 minutes remaining, impressed in the little time he had.
Both the press and the fans are imploring Lagerback to go with Kallstrom for the Paraguay clash.
The coach, however, is leaving his options open.
"It was not individual mistakes that lay behind the draw," said Lagerback. "We played well but we didn't have any luck.
"We are all looking forward to the game with Paraguay, either with Svensson or Kallstrom - or maybe both - from the start."
Svensson, the former Southampton midfielder who now plays for Elfsborg, does not know where he stands in Lagerback's thinking.
"It's frustrating not to know from game to game if you have the coach's trust," he said.
"After the game against Trinidad & Tobago, it seemed like it was my fault that we didn't win. At the moment, I don't feel very well."
