Olle Nordin

The 1990 World Cup in Italy was the first time since 1978 that Sweden had qualified for a championship. Expectations were high for Olle Nordin's national team, but it ended in failure. Some of the players who left their mark in the tournament were Cameroon's 38-year-old striker Roger Milla and Italy's unexpected top scorer Salvatore Schillaci.

The 1988 UEFA European Football Championship final tournament was held in West Germany between 10 and 25 June 1988. It was the eighth European Football Championship, which is held every four years and supported by UEFA. The tournament crowned the Netherlands as European champions for the first, and so far only time. Euro 88 was a rare incidence of a major football tournament ending without a single sending-off or goalless draw, nor any knockout matches going to extra time or penalties.

The 1978 World Cup was played in Argentina, and ended with the home nation winning its first World Cup gold in history. Holland's golden generation lost their second World Cup final in a row. Sweden drew with Brazil but still finished last in their group. Argentina's Mario Kempes won the top scorer's award, while other stars in the tournament included Cubillas from Peru and Boniek from Poland.