Rangers defender Filip Helander featured in a 4-2 defeat for Sweden against France in Paris on Tuesday night which saw his side relegated from their Nations League group.
The Gers centre-back was named on the bench at the Stade de France and watched on as his side blew an early lead to go 3-1 down by the hour mark.
He was brought on for his first appearance of the international block in the 66th minute, replacing Manchester United star, Victor Lindelof, and joining Marcus Danielson at the heart of the back four.
Helander did a good job of steadying the ship against a high-quality opposition attack that included Antoine Griezmann and substitutes, Kylian Mbappe and Kingsley Coman.
With the hosts being kept at bay, Sweden made things interesting in the 88th minute, when Robin Quaison made it 3-2.
A point would have been enough to lift the visitors above Croatia into third spot in League A Group 3, but as they piled forward in search of an equaliser, Coman scored on the counter to seal France’s win.
The defeat has seen Janne Andersson’s side relegated from their Nations League group after they picked up just three points from six matches.
Their poor record can be forgiven, though, given they were up against 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia and two international powerhouses in France and Portugal.
Helander will now return to Rangers as Steven Gerrard’s side prepare to face Aberdeen at Ibrox on Sunday.
