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Lennart
Skoglund
(Sweden)
Nicknamed
through-out his career as “Nacka”, Lennart
Skoglund was a star of two Swedish World Cup sides in
the 1950s. First as a young inside-left in 1950 and
then as a mature left winger on home soil in 1958.
Born at Stockholm in 1929, blond-haired Skoglund was
spotted as a 19-year-old playing for Third Division
team Hammarby by the top Swedish club AIK Stockholm. A
little over a year later, Nacka was making an impact
in the World Cup held in Brazil where he formed a
great partnership with Karl-Erik Palmér as Sweden
finished third.
Skoglund moved to Italy
to play for Inter Milan after the World Cup and had
huge success helping them win the Serie A title twice.
His fine ball-control, excellent left foot and fine
distribution made him a big favourite with the fans.
Sweden failed to qualify to the 1954 World Cup because
they would not recall exiles like Nacka, hence his few
caps, but when the Swedes played host to the 1958
tournament, they had a change of heart and Skoglund
appeared in all Sweden’s games as they finished
runners-up to Brazil. In the semifinal against West
Germany, Nacka scored his first and only goal for
Sweden in the 3-1 win which set them up for the
classic final against Brazil.
He left Inter Milan
after nine great seasons in 1959 to play for Sampdoria
and returned home to Sweden four years later for a
second spell with AIK Stockholm where he ended his
career.
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