Even though Andy Murray looked concerned on the eve of Wimbledon kick-off as to why the timings of the tournament have to clash with the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2018, tennis players have been taking out time in between their busy schedule in London to follow football and Roger Federer is a proof of it. The eight-time Wimbledon champion had watched the round-of-16 clash between his country Switzerland and Sweden on Tuesday and was disappointed with the team’s ‘lethargic’ efforts in the 0-1 loss. Switzerland were part of Group E in FIFA World Cup 2018.
They drew against title-favourites Brazil in their opener before defeating Serbia 2-1 in the second match. Costa Rica played a hard fought battle against the European nation in the final group stage match to hold Switzerland on 2-2. With five points from three matches, they finished second behind Brazil and booked a date with Sweden in the round-of-16.The team looked confident and capable enough to oust the 24th-ranked Sweden but lack of team effort left Switzerland gasping for ball at the Saint Petersburg Arena. “I was disappointed yesterday.
I expected more from the team,” Federer said on the sidelines of Wimbledon 2018 on Wednesday. “That’s the thing with knockout. You have to bring it like it was the finals every match, it’s 11 guys at the same time. It can’t just be three guys, eight guys. It needs to be everybody at the same time doing the same thing.””I felt it’s an opportunity missed. I think we had our chance against Sweden but in the end, I thought they were maybe a little bit better. We didn’t create enough chances. At the end I do believe the one who usually creates a bit more deserves it, as well.
It’s not a sour taste in the end because I think we deserved what we got. Maybe we’re not part of the best eight in the world.”The 20-time Grand Slam winner then used his own experiences to explain Switzerland’s problem against Sweden. “What I know from knock-out play throughout the course of my career, you can’t afford to come in lethargic or not thinking,” he added. “You just think it’s going to happen by itself, just because you play one good match the day before. You’re only as good as your next performance really.”