There does seem to be a systemic problem in the Swedish team, because the entire WCH relay champ distance team has gone backwards or been missing this season. Sprints are better off due to sheer amount of talent pool (even if two are missing, another two can do the job), but they have proven to be vulnerable in classic. No classic sprint victory this season yet. If the ski waxing issue is true, it could explain something, because in classic it's easier to get things wrong. Because there you need grip wax too in addition to glide, which means the margin of error is greater.
Generally speaking the most positives are about skiers, who are newcomers and weren't even part of the A-team last year (Svahn, Lundgren). Maybe they haven't been burdened with overtraining yet? The best-placed Swede in the overall world cup is 12th. Well, whatever it is, I guess they can be relieved there are no major championships this year. And the best they can do is to learn your lessons, and prepare for the next seasons in which there are major championships.
---
A short comment about Russians too. It's been established that after some skiers decided to take a sabbatical this year, their XC has been completely on Nepryaeva. However, this is the season in which some other prospect could have stepped up and shown at least something, but this hasn't happened. The 2nd best Russian woman in the overall standings is only 39th. Which is probably below expectations too.