Freeway - Football on the North Pool.

Football on the North Pool.

Football is, without doubt, the biggest sport in the world. Fifa, the official football federation, has 207 membercountries and is the second largest international organization in the world second only to the UN. Football is, in other words, played all over the world.

In Sweden football is very popular. It's the sport with most registered players, and it's one of the most, if not the most, broadcasted sport on TV.

The audience at a game between Sweden and Chile at Råsunda.

When Sweden played the final in the womens world cup in 2003 almost 3,8 million people watched the game. That's in a country with around 9 million inhabitants. The year before , in the 2002 World Cup, when the men played against Senegal in the first round after they had qualified from the group 2,9 million Swedes sat down in front of their TV's. Both the England-Sweden-game and the final in this summer's World Cup attracted over 2 millions viewers. Around 2,3 millions saw the Germany-Sweden-game in the same tournament.

Sweden compared to the world

The fact that so many people watch football prove that it is one of our most important sources of entertainment. Both the Premier League and Serie A are very popular here in Sweden. Lots of people watch it to follow Swedish players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter), Henrik Larsson (Manchester United) “Chippen” Wilhelmsson (Roma), Freddie Ljungberg (Arsenal). Others just watch simply for the great football that is played there. Especially the English league draws a lot of attention here, most football-interested Swedes have a favourite team in the Premiership. I, for instance, am a supporter of Leeds United (not so fun at the moment). These leagues, and other international leagues provide thousands of sports interested Swedes with entertainment of the highest class, although it's just on the telly. But we do have over own leaguesystem too. The highest league is called Allsvenskan. The average attendance this year was 9 423 guys per game. Best was second placed AIK, from our capital Stockholm, with 21 434 per game. Not really comparable to the Premier League or Serie A but in Sweden we only have 9 million people, not 50 or 58 millions. As a reminder the record of average attendance in the Premier League is 35 464 (set during the 02-03 season) or 0,007% of the population compared to 9 423 which is 0,1% of the swedish population. But, that's just numbers. The fact is that there is a big difference in the football culture in Sweden or, let's say, in England.

Kevin Spires knows the difference

One who's really familiar with the differences is Kevin Spires, native of London and former player of Leyton Orient (at that time in the second leauge)who is now living in Örnsköldsvik. He has played for some local clubs here and is now coaching. He tells a little bit of his opinions on the difference between English and Swedish football.

- In England it's a way of life, people are raised with it. It's very passionate. Everybody has some kind of connection to it. The best thing with English football is the great attitude that everybody has, the players, the coaches and the audience.
The passion that people in England feel has some negative sides though. Kevin says that the biggest problem in English football is the hooligans.
- The situation is better but they are still there. Not so much in the arenas but outside. You don't see it on TV but it's there.
On the other hand the problem in Sweden is quite the opposite. The low attendance on games in Allsvenskan is one of the big downsides and something he hopes will change.
Although, of course, the Premier League is much better than Allsvenskan he doesn't think that the difference is that big between English and Swedish football in the smaller leagues.
- Yeah, the smaller leagues are quite even. The biggest difference is that English players are physically tougher. But everybody is in great shape here, even the amateurs. That's positive with Swedish players.
There's a big difference for young players too. In England, you get elected for the district team when you're eleven and signed as an apprentice at the age of 16. Here you have district team at 15. Kevin believes that gives the English players better training and better competiotion.
A final question to Kevin; Zlatan or Rooney?
-Rooney! He's a working class hero, Kevin says with a smile.

So, if football is popular in Sweden, it's loved in England. And, it's very entertaining.