Sweden goes football crazy

World Cup fever is spreading in Sweden. Even the normally distanced average citizens are turning into patriotic fans. Niklas Ekdal explores why. "Over the past century, nationalism has earned a bad name in Europe – following the madness of the world wars and their echo in the Balkans. The EU was created as an alternative. The prophets of the modern age believed that cosmopolitan people would be born without this fixation on national identity. But today we know this is not true and that paradoxically, globalisation is increasing peoples' need for a national identity. As tribe and family lose their function within modern society, the nation becomes the best channel for this impulse. Bolstered by cosy nationalism it's easier to appreciate the other teams, too. And when your own country is disqualified, there's always another you can learn to love in the finals."

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