FILIP Helander last night admitted the chance to be involved in the Euro 2020 finals with Sweden will give him an extra incentive to perform well for Rangers in the coming months.
Helander celebrated with his countrymen last week after they beat Romania 2-0 in Bucharest in their penultimate Group F qualifier to secure their place at next summer’s tournament.
The centre half, who played for his national team in their final section match against the Faroe Islands in Stockholm on Monday, has been in good form for the Ibrox club in recent weeks.
READ MORE: Hoping to pen a glorious new chapter of Scots at the Euros
The £3 million summer signing is keen to keep that going, in the Europa League in particular, in the months ahead so he can remain part of Sweden manager Jan Andersson’s plans.
“The Faroes match was my first game for Sweden since June,” he said. “You are always proud to represent your country. It was a game after we had already qualified and we changed a lot of players. But it was a nice experience to play.
“We had some celebrations in Romania after the game, but the manager had already said he would change a lot of players. The ones who didn’t play then knew they could be involved against the Faroes so of course you had to handle it wisely.
“I always want to play so hopefully I can show in this coming six months that I can and I can increase my chances of playing.
“Euro 2020 is a big stage and you want to be involved. If the team (Rangers) is playing well then you look better. If we can continue as well in Europe then I will have a good chance of showing what I am capable of doing.
“Hopefully I can show consistency in my game. You don’t want to play well and then have a bad game after three or four good games so hopefully there is more to come not just from me but from everyone in the dressing room.”
Sweden played Norway - who Scotland will face in the play-off final if they overcome Israel in the semi-final and the Scandinavians beat Serbia in their last four tie - twice in Euro 2020 qualifying and drew with them on both occasions.
Helander, who played in the 3-3 draw in Oslo in March, believes Steve Clarke’s side will have their work cut out reaching the finals if they come up against Lars Lagerback’s team.
READ MORE: Christmas night out put on hold by Steven Gerrard so Rangers can focus fully on festive fixture list
“It’s a strong side, a good side,” he said. “They have a few players who are really good. Odegaard (Real Madrid winger Martin) is a bit of a player. It will be a tough game if Scotland end up playing them.”
The 26-year-old scored important goals for Rangers in Ladbrokes Premiership wins over Motherwell and Hearts at Ibrox and showed he can get upfield and initiate attacks as well before the international break.
But the former Bologna player stressed he is more concerned with helping his team, who take on Hamilton in the league at the Fountain of Youth Stadium tomorrow afternoon, keep clean sheets.
“I try to contribute in any way I can,” he said. “It is not always the midfielders who need to make the passes. We all have to help each other and if I can contribute in that way it is good.
“I am happy to be able to score sometimes. We have good deliveries from both sides. We have a lot of corners and a lot of free-kicks so every game there are possibilities to score and that is something we can improve on. But the main focus is that I am a defender and I need to defend. That is the most important thing.”
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