Baxter backs Larsson to reign over Spain

If Henrik Larsson can inspire Sweden to a win over Group D favourites Spain at least a little part of the credit should go to the current coach of Finland, Stuart Baxter.

Significant development
The Anglo-Scot not only signed Larsson for Helsingborgs IF after the Swede left FC Barcelona but then drew the last significant development out of the 36-year-old striker. Baxter shrewdly assessed his old friend as being capable of dropping back to play in the No10 role instead of sticking rigidly to his traditional centre-forward work. He also made Larsson captain, figuring partly that the player would rise to such a challenge but also that he had a massive databank of knowledge to impart. Baxter, who recently accepted the chance to return to international management with Finland, said he was far from surprised that Larsson had now come out of self-imposed retirement from Sweden team.

Important realisation
"For the time I coached him at Helsingborgs I'd seen signs of him realising the implications of leaving Barcelona and retiring from Sweden," explained the former South Africa and England Under-19 coach. "Henke put in three years of non-stop soccer between Barcelona, Manchester United [FC] and Helsingborgs, but as soon as he had a rest he realised that he still had time in his legs. At first he was a little tired and irritable but I think the fact that you are a long time retired started to register with him. I saw the signs, as soon as he had a little winter break, that he absolutely knew he still had top-class football in him and our terrific run in the UEFA Cup [where Larsson scored nine goals on a run from the first qualifying round to the last 32] tipped the balance. I'm not surprised he's back."

Spanish incentive
Baxter has football in his blood but he also knows what makes people tick. His crystal-clear understanding of Larsson's psyche means he is sure what will be going through the Swede's mind on Saturday evening against Spain. Baxter will be at the stadium to urge his friend on and he expects fireworks. "He loves moments like this," he said. "Henke will shake the hands of his old team-mates [Carles Puyol, Andrés Iniesta, Xavi Hernández], give them a hug then it will give him great pleasure to go out and apply the coup de grâce. He should be at this tournament – he made the right decision to come back. That little combination play leading up to Zlatan Ibrahimović's goal against Greece, the way he worked his socks off late in the game to pull the team through the vital last stage – these are the last great gifts Henke is giving to Sweden. Once he was a goal-poacher extraordinaire but now he's a fine, visionary all-round footballer and a true leader." Sit back and wait for the Henrik Larsson show against Spain, then – the end of his career is coming, but not quite yet.