Goal.com

Jun 21, 2012 1:15:00 PM

The winger was one of the bright lights of a disappointing campaign for Sweden, and he wants his displays to have an effect on the transfer market

Kris Voakes   In Kiev

EXCLUSIVE

Christian Wilhelmsson is hoping that his excellent personal performances at Euro 2012 will help his cause this summer as he looks to join a big club after four years in Saudi Arabia.

The 32-year-old was one of Sweden's most effective players during their failed bid to reach the quarter-finals in Poland and Ukraine, and he is eager to use his displays as a bargaining chip during the summer transfer window.

The Al-Hilal wide man told Goal.com: "Of course [my performances] are going to have an influence on teams. It’s important because everyone looks at this kind of tournament and big games like this, so I hope it’s going to be a boost, of course."

Wilhelmsson came off the bench to good effect in all three games, most notably influencing the 2-0 win over France on the final matchday in Group D, and he was delighted to be able to reward the mass of travelling Swedish supporters in Kiev.

"They’ve been there all the time and supported us very well," he said. "Even in training, they came to those sessions, so it means a lot that we can give them this kind of game."

The ex-Nantes, Roma, Bolton and Deportivo La Coruna man is among a number of ageing Swedes who have stated their intention to remain available for selection by national coach Erik Hamren, and he hopes the victory over Les Bleus can be the first forward step after a disappointing Euro 2012 campaign.

"I’m satisfied with our game on Tuesday, and unfortunately we didn’t have the little bit of luck in the first two games," he stated. "That first half [versus Ukraine] really sucks actually. We didn’t come up to our standard at all, we didn’t reach our level. In the games against both Ukraine and England we were one goal up, but we couldn’t keep it, and we should have drawn at least one of those games.

"One draw in those first two games would have been enough, and then we’d be qualified. But that’s football. In this kind of tournament you need a little bit of luck to go through, so we have to take this game with us to the World Cup qualifiers."

Although England and France have qualified from the group at Sweden's expense, Wilhelmsson believes the two sides still have much work to do.

"It’s difficult when you have teams like Spain and Germany still going strong, and they’ve played incredible football. So I think it’s going to be difficult, as these two teams are still the favourites, but anything can happen."

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