BENJAMIN NYGREN remained on the substitutes’ bench as Sweden’s World Cup misery came to a conclusion with a 1-1 home draw with Slovenia last night.
The stalemate left the Celtic star and his international team-mates without a win in their six qualifiers as they failed in their attempt to reach the soccer showpiece next summer.
Nygren, a £1.7million recruit in June, suffered on the sidelines as the Swedes, with ex-Celt Carl Starfelt in central defence, completed Group B with just two points after a couple of draws and four losses. They scored a mere four goals and conceded 12 to finish 12 points behind section winners Switzerland and nine adrift of second-placed Kosovo.
NO SWEDE DREAMS…Benjamin Nygren will have to put international woes behind him when Celtic take on St Mirren in Paisley on Saturday night.
It looked as though the curtain was coming down with another defeat when Timi Elsnik put the visitors ahead in the 64th minute.
New Sweden team chief Graham Potter, the former Chelsea, West Ham and Brighton boss, threw on another former Hoops defender, Gustaf Lagerbielke, as an 84th replacement for Victor Lindelof.
Three minutes later, the centre-back set up the equaliser for Gustav Lundgren.
Nygren, who has scored six goals since his summer arrival, will be hoping for better luck if he gets the nod when the champions face St Mirren in Paisley on Saturday evening.
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