The Numbers Don’t Lie: How 365Scores Impact Rating Reveals the Alarming Decline of Swedish Football
A deep dive into the 365Scores Impact Rating shows Sweden isn’t just losing—it’s not even competing.
For decades, the Swedish national football team was synonymous with grit, organization, and a consistent ability to punch above its weight. Yet, as the recent UEFA World Cup qualifiers have shown, the golden era is a distant memory. The team’s “fall” isn’t just a feeling; it’s a statistical reality. By using the 365Scores Impact Rating—an objective measure of a player’s all-around contribution—the gulf between Sweden and Europe’s elite is painfully clear.
To understand how far the team has fallen, we only need to look at the nation that exemplifies success: Spain. While La Furia Roja cruises with a perfect 5-0 record, their dominance is reflected in the data. The average Impact Rating for a Spanish player is a world-class 47.22.
Now, look at Sweden. The average Impact Rating for the Swedish squad is a staggering 18.20.
This isn’t just a gap; it’s a chasm. The data tells a damning story: Spain’s average player performs at a level that is higher than Sweden’s single best player.
While Spain boasts a roster of game-changers, their top performers are operating on another level. The 18-year-old phenom Lamine Yamal 78.19 (Avg. IR), Arsenal‘s Mikel Merino 68.23 (Avg. IR), and Real Sociedad‘s Mikel Oyarzabal 67.84 (Avg. IR) are all posting astronomical numbers, consistently shaping games.
And Sweden’s best? Their top-rated player, Gustaf Lagerbielke, sits at 46.50 (Avg. IR)—a number that would barely register above average in the Spanish squad. Even star forward Alexander Isak, one of the team’s biggest names, has only managed an Impact Rating of 24.72 This figure, while above the team’s low average, pales in comparison to the elite impact demonstrated by Spain’s key players.
The data is clear: Sweden is currently lacking the high-impact individual performers required to compete with Europe’s best. The 365Scores Impact Rating doesn’t just measure a few bad games; it highlights a systemic lack of impact across the pitch. As Spain looks toward the World Cup, Sweden is left to analyze the cold, hard numbers of its decline.
