Lagerback says will stay with Sweden

Swedish coach Lars Lagerback said Thursday he intended to stay in his post and was not contemplating resigning despite their first-round exit at Euro 2008 to Russia.

“I have not even thought about it (resigning),” Lagerback told Sweden’s TT news agency, despite criticism of the Swedish showing which ended with a tame 2-0 loss to the Russians after a narrow defeat to Spain and an opening win over defending champions Greece.

“It’s easy to see everything pessimistically today – but I am as disappointed as everyone,” said Lagerback.

“We had a fantastic group. There is nothing to cry about. Of course our target was to go further,” he conceded.

But Lagerback insisted he was motivated 100 percent to lead the Swedes to the next World Cup in South Africa in 2010.

The Swedes’ next match is against fellow Euro flops France on August 20.