Sweden’s Striking Dilemma

The clock is ticking and in less than 24-hours Sweden will know just which players Lars Lagerbäck & Roland Andersson are taking to Germany. One of the biggest issues facing the coaches must surely be which strikers to pick. Or rather should Sweden take four or five strikers?

Henke Larsson’s place is guaranteed.100% Although he’s warmed the bench at Barçelona this season, he has played a super-sub role and scored regularly if not prodigiously. Sure, his legs aren’t what they used to be, but experience and demonstrable talent goes a long way. Henke is one of three world class players in the squad. One concern may well be that he might struggle to play the full 90 minutes in Germany, but expect him to get the nod when it matters: and expect him to score.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s place is also assured despite a worrying dry spell the last three months. Although some commentators might like to think that it’s the end of the world as we know it, most Swedes know Zlatan thrives on adversity: he’ll come good when necessary. Or he’ll throw a tantrum, and fall out with the press every ten minutes.

Now it gets difficult. Do Lagerbäck & Andersson take two or three more strikers? Or, to put it another way, should they go for an aging workhorse who’s admittedly had a decent season in Denmark. Or stick with youth and vitality and rather dodgey recent form?

For all his virtues, Marcus Allbäck is top class in Scandinavia, but not necessarily world class. The former Aston Villa player has had a good season in Denmark, ending up top scorer with 15 goals in 28 starts. Not bad for a 32-year old who seemed to lose his way in the Premier League. But it’s hard to see the powerful striker thriving against the likes of France, Argentina and Brazil, should Sweden advance to the knockout stages.

Then there’s Markus Rosenberg. Impressive at Ajax until early February but then the lad forget how to score. Can he find the goal in Germany? The fans will remind him where it is, but I’m not so sure.

The same goes for Johan Elmander. Like Allbäck, he plies his trade in Denmark. But Elmander has struggled all winter after a promising start to the season.

So on paper it looks like Allbäck is the safest option to accompany Henke and Zlatan, leaving Lagerbäck & Andersson probably going for Markus Rosenberg because he’s shown that he can carry his own in a side like Ajax. Trouble is, our striking options are so poor, it’s possible to see Elmander being selected too. But if five strikers go, where in the squad do we cut down? Midfield? Defense?

It’s a tough call, but managers are paid to make tough calls. As my head’s not on the block, though, I’d stick with four strikers. Anders Svensson, Chippen, Ljungberg and Kim Källström can all contribute with goals from midfield. But which striker would I leave out? Definitely Allbäck. He’s a good target man, but far too slow around the box. That’s why he struggled in the Premiership with Villa. Rosenberg and Elmander are younger, faster and although they lack the experience and the goals, they can score. Or rather, they just have to remember how to do it.