Saturday 07 / September / 2024
DRAWN in a qualifying group with France and the Netherlands and then pitted against Italy in a playoff, few would have tipped Sweden to make it to the World Cup finals but the Scandinavians are full of surprises and there may be more to come in Russia.
Janne Andersson’s side pipped the Dutch to second spot in qualifying Group A and then ground out a 1-0 aggregate playoff win to knock out the Italians, and they will now face South Korea, Germany and Mexico in Group F at the finals.
Missing through all this was talismanic striker and all-time Swedish top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who retired from international football after the 2016 European Championship.
Though the Ibra era provided plenty of spectacular goals and outrageous sound bites, there was less in the way of World Cup success, and the Swedes missed out on both the 2010 and 2014 finals.
Following the departure of Ibra and coach Erik Hamren from the international stage, Andersson has refashioned the side according to fundamentals of the country’s footballing heritage.
He has emphasised the hard work and collective spirit that saw the nation of 10 million come second to Brazil when they hosted the World Cup in 1958, and third at USA ‘94.
Andersson’s team conceded nine goals in their 10 qualifiers before the Italy playoff but scored 26, eight more than group winners France.
They are well-drilled in defence, quick to retreat and form a compact barrier in front of goal and, with the fleet-footed Emil Forsberg on the wing, they are capable of hitting teams rapidly on the break.
Though happy to knock the ball forward quickly, they are by no means a traditional long-ball team, and Andersson has no problem with his side holding possession and probing patiently for openings on the edge of the opposition penalty area.
Key for the Swedes will be the form of Forsberg and the return of rangy goalkeeper Robin Olsen, who has promised to sacrifice “blood, sweat and tears” to recover from a shoulder injury in time.
Though they will be without the towering figure of Ibrahimovic, there is enough guile both in the squad and in the dugout to ensure more than a few Swedish surprises in Russia.
Factbox
FIFA ranking: 23
Previous tournaments
The Swedes have taken part in 11 World Cup finals, with their best result coming when they hosted the tournament in 1958 and lost the final to Brazil. They also came third in the United States in 1994.
Coach: Janne Andersson
Steeped in the traditions of the Swedish game, 55-year-old Janne Andersson took over from Erik Hamren in 2016 and immediately began implementing the kind of team-first policy that helped him to win the Swedish title with an unfancied IFK Norrkoping side in 2015.
Though his strengths lie in his traditional view of the game, Andersson is an intelligent, forward-thinking leader with a proven ability to get his teams to deliver at a high level.
Key players
Emil Forsberg: The RB Leipzig winger has inherited both the number 10 shirt worn previously by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the responsibility for being the team’s creative spark. Forsberg is the outlet for many of Sweden’s counter-attacks, and his excellent close control, dribbling and shooting create plenty of opportunities for his team mates.
Robin Olsen: Tall and commanding, the FC Copenhagen goalkeeper is an excellent shot-stopper and a good performance in Russia will probably see him courted by top clubs in Europe. Superb in the air and confident with his feet, Olsen is the last line of defence as well as the launch-pad for many of Sweden’s attacks.
Andreas Granqvist: Captain and centre-back, Granqvist is the beating heart of the Sweden team and their leader on the pitch.
Not one to pull out of a tackle or shy away from a duel, he is capable of scoring from set-pieces or from distance with his thunderous right foot.
Form guide
The high of World Cup qualification has been tempered somewhat by flat friendly performances in recent months, but the Swedes have proved in qualifying that they are capable of turning it on in competitive games.
How they qualified
Sweden finished second in Group A on 19 points, four behind winners France, and edged out the Netherlands on goal difference before beating Italy 1-0 on aggregate in a thrilling two-legged playoff to book their World Cup berth.
Prospects
Meticulous in his preparations, Andersson has a habit of getting the results he needs, despite the limited resources at his disposal, and at the very least he and his team will be aiming to get out of the group.
Should they finish as runners-up to Germany, they will most likely face Brazil in the last 16.
