There are just a few hours left until Sweden take on Trinidad & Tobago tonight in Dortmund, Germany, in their opening match of the 2006 World Cup. With many claiming this is the best squad since 1994, expectations are high. Everyone I’ve talked to is oozing confidence except Seb.
Seb reckons that T&T, with their array [...]

With expectation rising, it’s now only a matter of hours ahead of our opening match against Trinidad & Tobago. The major talking point has to be who will start in goal in place of Isaksson.
Former national keeper Magnus Hedman is tipping Rami Shaban.
“He’s got the confidence to take space out there on the field,” Hedman [...]

Two days until our first match and Andreas Isaksson is injured.
Isaksson has been our number one since 2002. Now, just days after he injured his bottom, falling awkwardly, the 24-year old keeper has been ruled out of Sweden’s World Cup opening match on Saturday Trinidad & Tobago after taking a vicious shot from midfielder [...]

Marcus Allbäck, 32, is increasingly likely to play an important role for Sweden if Zlatan continues to missfire.
Reports in the press today suggested that Zlatan’s training session was farcical with the tall striker missing the target time and time again.
Although it’s highly unlikley Lars Lagerbäck will drop Zlatan, he may well lose faith [...]

Sweden coach Lars “Lasse” Lagerbäck’s blood pressure probably went up today as first choice ‘keeper Andreas Isaksson picked up an injury during training.
The Rennes-based keeper fell awkwardly after colliding with liability defender Olof Mellberg whilst coming for a high-ball. The incident brought an end to training for Isaksson hobble and he took no further [...]

So Sweden yet again failed to win an international match. Yes, it was a friendly. Yes, there were positive signs; however, questions must be asked about the ability of our defense to deal with pace.
First the positives: Henrik Larsson proved once again that he really is in a class above any other Swedish player. [...]

Here is the Swedish line up against Chile

Oh joy: Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Kelvin Jack thinks Sweden are favourites to win World Cup Group B – not England.
The former Dundee ‘keeper insists the greater team ethic of Sweden will triumph over Sven-Goran Eriksson’s squad.
“Everyone seems to be focused on England, but Sweden are, for me, the best team in [...]

Despite beating Hungary 3-1 in a friendly this evening England failed to impress. They hardly did anything to suggest they’ll trouble Sweden. Playing up front Steven Gerrard looked uncomfortable and unable to make the killer runs he regularly does for Liverpool. Michael Owen was dreadful as a solitary striker and was made to look second [...]

Swedish news paper Dagens Nyheter reckons Kim Källström is close to knocking Anders Svensson out of the first team.
In the past Källström, who looks like he is on his way to French champions Lyon, has come on as a substitute for Svensson but Svensson’s failure to make any real mark in England playing for Southampton [...]