IN TO CLAIM PECKING ORDER

Portugal in 2013. “We should have gone to the 2014 finals in Brazil, but Ronaldo produced some magic to deny us in a play-off match,” he said.

“We finished second in our group and had a two-legged play-off against Portugal.

“We thought we had done OK when Ronaldo scored once in Lisbon and we lost 1-0. But, in the second leg, he scored a hat-trick of brilliant goals and even though Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored two for us, we didn’t go to the finals.

“It was my dream since I was a little boy to play at the World Cup, so, having missed out in 2014, I’m so keen to make up for that now.”

Germany and Mexico make up the rest of Group F and Olsson – who suffered Premier League relegation with the Swans – has a realistic view of how his country can advance. The Germans will be the firm favourites to win our group,” he said. “But it is very even between us, Mexico and South Korea for the other place.”

It means the key matches for the Swedes are likely to be their final tie against Mexico and that opener against the Koreans. If the mind games are anything to go by back in South Wales, then Olsson appears to have the edge over Ki.

“He’s been telling me for a long time I can’t talk to him any more as I am the enemy,” he said.

“But I’m used to being an outsider from the north of Sweden, so I think I win that one.

“And I think we can win on the pitch, too.”