Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Reuters
Reuters
Sport

Sweden captain Granqvist staying put as baby looms

Soccer Football - World Cup - Group F - Mexico vs Sweden - Ekaterinburg Arena, Yekaterinburg, Russia - June 27, 2018 Sweden's Andreas Granqvist celebrates after the match REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge

SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Sweden's Andreas Granqvist has hinted he will captain his country in their World Cup last-16 clash against Switzerland on Tuesday, despite the fact his wife is due to give birth to the couple's second child on the same day.

Sophie Granqvist recently returned to Sweden as her husband is set to leave Russian club FC Krasnodar after a five-year stint following the World Cup and join Helsingborgs in his home country.

"It's hard to go home when you have a last-16 game to play," said Granqvist, who cried tears of joy when Sweden beat Mexico to win their group.

He had previously been considering flying back to Sweden to be present at the birth.

"So far, nothing has happened at home. We know how the situation is - my wife is very strong and she has many of her nearest and dearest around her," Granqvist said.

(Reporting by Philip O'Connor, editing by Ed Osmond)

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.