The summer of 1994, with the World Cup in the USA, became an enchanted Swedish football summer. Brolin, Dahlin, Ravelli and all the other bronze heroes created football fever throughout the country, and were celebrated at their homecoming by 50,000 people in Rålambshovsparken.

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.