Roger Federer Disappointed With Switzerland's Display During World Cup Exit To Sweden

Roger Federer was not pleased with Switzerland's performance against Sweden that ultimately saw them lose 1-0 and exit the World Cup in the round of 16 stage on Tuesday.

Despite Sweden topping a tough group that included Germany and Mexico, Switzerland were the slight betting favorites (+170) heading into the match and were expected to defeat the Scandinavians who were +200.

However, it was a poor overall performance by the Swiss who never really got going as Emil Forsberg's deflected strike in the 66th minute gave Sweden a second half lead.

Switzerland went for an all out attack in the last few minutes only to be caught on the counter, with Michael Lang receiving a straight red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity for Martin Olsson.

"We didn't find any fluidity and we got stuck in the middle," Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic reflected. "Our emotions were playing tricks on us. Sweden are a strong team but we didn't expect to be losing against them — but there were tiny details... This game was only ever going to be decided with a own goal or a long-range shot."

It marked the third straight international tournament that this talented Swiss generation exited in the last 16 while their dreaded run of not reaching the World Cup quarterfinals since 1954 continued.

Federer, Switzerland's biggest sporting export, simply expected more from his national team who suffered just their second defeat since 2016.

"I was disappointed yesterday. I expected more from the team," Federer said on Wednesday, as quoted on the Sydney Morning Herald. "That's the thing with [the] knockout [stage]. 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. We didn't create enough chances. We deserved what we got."

As for whether he would have liked to have given the team a pep talk, Federer states that more than that, the performance and energy were lacking — aspects that need to be at the very top level every single day.

"Now the pep talk is too late anyway," he added. "It's important that they understand you've got to bring the energy every single day. It's throughout the year. It's not just in the World Cup, last 16 or quarters. That's why you need to bring it every single day."

"When you step out on the pitch, or on the court in tennis, in practice, in the match, you have to always try to be able to perform as high as possible. Then it's actually not a big deal to bring it also in a match like yesterday."

Federer is currently in the round of 32 at Wimbledon after a straight-set win over Lukas Lacko on Wednesday and is expected to win his ninth title there later this month.

Having played in his fair share of knockout matches in big events, the 36-year-old adds that the one thing any team or player cannot afford to do, is be lethargic.

"What I know from knockout play throughout the course of my career is (that) you can't afford to come in lethargic," Federer explained. "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."

Federer takes on Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff next.