Gunnar Gren - International Career

International Career

Gren made his debut for Sweden on 29 August 1940 in the team's 3-2 win over Finland. During the next decade he played 40 matches for the national team, ending in 1949 with 3-1 against Ireland in a World Cup qualifier and 2-2 in a friendly against Hungary. During this era Gren was part of the team that won the gold medal in the 1948 Olympics in London, scoring twice against Yugoslavia in the final on Wembley.

As a professional, Gren was suspended from the Swedish national team. However, as the World Cup of 1958 was to be played on home soil and the Swedish team seemed too weak for the competition, the Swedish Football Association changed this rule, and Gren, having now ended his professional career and playing in the Swedish Division 2, was again eligible. Gren went on to be the oldest player of this World Cup, 37 years old, and played an important role in the silver medal winning Swedish team. He played five matches during the World Cup and scored one goal, 2-1 against West Germany in the semi-final.

Gren's last cap came on 26 October 1958 against Denmark in a 4-4 draw. At the time, he was 37 years, 350 days old. In all, Gunnar Gren made 57 appearances for the national team, scoring 32 goals.