Prime Minister’s Nerves Won’t Let Him Watch

Prime Minister Goeran Persson said he was too nervous to watch Sweden’s World Cup opener against England, according to the Swedish news agency TT. The game ended in a 1-1 tie.

Persson said he avoided television on Sunday but followed developments with text messages on his cell phone and Center Party leader Maud Olofsson, who finally called to tell him the final score.

“I am among those who sit in a room on the side and have some kind of contact via others’ shouts and groans,” Persson said.

“I don’t think it’s a particularly nice experience, I was so dreadfully nervous.”