Lagerbäck set to pick tough, attacking side
Let’s sort the details out first. Sweden meet England in the clash for Group B’s top spot this evening. With both teams undefeated, the winners will top the group and go on to face the second placed team in Group A – either Ecuador or Germany.
If the match between the two European sides is a draw, England will top the group and Sweden will go through as Group B runners up to play the top team in Group A, again either Ecuador or Germany.
If Sweden, however, lose the match, Trinidad & Tobago can seize second spot by defeating Paraguay by two goals in their clash in Kaiserslautern.
The clash between Group A leaders Ecuador and Germany is scheduled to finish in Berlin just hours before England and Sweden kick-off in Cologne. Although Ecuador have set the tournament on fire, scoring five goals and conceding none in their victories over Poland and Costa Rica, Sweden would probably rather face the South Americans in the last 16 rather than host nation Germany who are a much bigger threat.
If Ecuador win or draw the match in the capital, then they will win Group A with Germany as runners up, however a German win will see the host nation finish top.
There is a strong possibility that Sweden could meet Germany in the second round. This would be a massive match for Lagerbäck’s band of merry men as, despite their recent poor form, the Germans have looked solid playing at home and with the support of the home crowd.
Over the last twenty years Sweden and England have played each other 10 times, with Sweden remarkably having never lost, winning four of the 10 matches and drawing six. NOt bad, eh, for a bunch of vikings from the north!
When quizzed as to whether he would like to avoid playing Germany in the second round, England coach Sven Göran Eriksson made it quite clear there are advantages to finishing top of Group B.
“You have one more day off than your opponents all the way through to the final. So we want to win the group.”
“Before leaving this job I should like to beat Sweden,” Eriksson added, the cheeky prankster.
Originally from the Värmland region of Sweden, Eriksson confirmed (14:00 CET) Shrek-lookalike Wayne Rooney will start against Sweden alongside Michael Owen.
“We are a different team with Rooney,” Eriksson said, perhaps overstating the obvious.
Eriksson is also expected to rest Liverpool’s captain mavel, Steven Gerrard, who is on a yellow card and would miss out in the next round if he picks up a card. Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves is expected to start in his place while Livepool defender Jamie Carragher will play at right back for the injured Gary Neville.
Hargreaves won’t both us as he’s not nearly as classy as Gerrard. It’s almost like Svennis had decided to play more cautiously than Lagerbäck who is set to pick a very combative midfield with Chippen Willhelmsson set to be rested and Matias Jonson playing instead. Jonsson is better defensively and I’m sure hell be more creative in midfield.
There’s no doubt we will be looking for the win to ensure place in the second round even though a draw might do it. The bad news is that Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was crocked whilst warming up for Sweden’s previous match against Paraguay, won’t play. The lanky striker has been in poor form of late and is widely expected to be replaced by the more robust Marcus Allbäck, who plays for FC Copenhagen in Denmark.
As for Anders Svensson, he’s expected to start on the bench again, no doubt with a bottle of milk and some cookies to stop him from sulking.
I’m predicting Sweden will win 3-1 with Anders Svensson coming off the bench to score a hat-rick in the last ten minutes! Then again, perhaps not.
Let’s have your predicitions then!
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Louis Roederer Cristal Rose 1996 for everyone if they kick ass!
Posted from
France




Yes, we did it!!
Heja Sverige!!
Posted from
Sweden




Soo results? 2:2 tied. What do people think about Sweden’s match against Germany? Apparently their previous record with Germany has been…not extremely long but…a little…grim. But seriously…that goal by Cole looked really amazing. And what was it with Owen suddenly collapsing… soo unfortunate. Thank goodness Allbäck scored though. I was also really happy to see Larsson…but that one from the camera angle anyway…was a bit confusing. At first seemed a bit like a double effort..but I guess they know best. All the same, what does it really matter, as long as the ball goes in?
Oh anxiety….Sweden gainst Germany….what’ll happen? I was really hoping Ecuador..but suppose not..
Posted from
Canada




It was a exciting game. Sweden weren@t defetead by England again!!!
next game is Germany…. it will be a tough game but they`ll do it.
Posted from
Japan




It was a exciting game. Sweden weren@t defetead by England again!!!
next game is Germany…. it will be a tough game but they`ll do it.
Posted from
Japan




i read somewhere that Larsson has become only the fifth player in WC history to score in tournaments 12 years apart(if the goal was his)he’s in good company Pele,Maradona,Seeler,M.Laudrup.Also,Larsson has now scored in Euro2000,WC2002,Euro2004,WC2006, any other player done that?
Posted from
United States




Ah curse that evil front view cam. shot. X___X The goal was much clearer on the WC site (Hurray for Larsson)…and the British commentator for the match was being such a nuisance pronouncing Kallstrom’s name wrong all the time. (I’m fairly sure that wasn’t my imagination….sort of..erm..)
If only Zlatan Ibrahimovic could come back and score now…
Posted from
Canada




the swedes played with alot of heart today…best wishes on one of the best games so far.
from a
german stranger in a strange land!
Posted from
United States




Al Jaber also Score in 1994, so he’s inclunde in that 12 years “Squad”
Posted from
Taiwan




great game sweden! looking forward to the next match.
german stranger 2
Posted from
Canada




Virgil Kane, Sami Al-Jaber of Saudi Arabia is among that list whcih makes Larsson the sixth not the fifth. I am very happy for Henrik Larsson, I was hoping he will score in this tournament. They say scoring a goal will boost strikers confidence, I hope Larsson will keep on scoring until the final.
Go Sverige
Posted from
United States




apologies to Sami Al-Jabr!
Posted from
United States


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