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Sweden - Team Profile
30/03/2006
As with plenty of teams in the competition Sweden have a decent first eleven line-up but lack strength in depth. They had little trouble in qualifying finishing second behind Croatia owing to losing to the group winners 1-0 both home and away. Scoring thirty goals and conceding only four tell its own story and they enter this year's tournament full of confidence.
Their defence is spearheaded by Andreas Isaksson in goal with Aston Villa's Olof Mellburg and the experienced ex-Leeds United player Teddy Lukic in the centre. Ageing it might be but it is full of grit and determination and a handful for any attack. Another ex-Premiership player fills in at left-back. Spurs fans will always remember Erik Edman's scorching goal from 35 yards against Liverpool in 2005 at Anfield but the player was considered a failure at White Hart Lane and now plies his trade, like goalkeeper Isaksson, in France.
Their midfield has a solid look about it with coach Lars Lagerbäck, now in sole charge following Tommy Soderberg's decision to coach the Under-21's, preferring a diamond midfield with Arsenal's injury-prone Freddy Ljungberg an important member. Others likely to figure include the ex-Everton pair (and failures) Tobias Linderoth and Niclas Alexandersson while the fearsome Kim Källström (nicknamed Kongo Kim) looks a likely starter.
It is up front where Sweden are strongest. Henrik Larsson needs no introduction to British fans having broken every goal scoring record there is while at Glasgow Celtic and is now at Barcelona. This will be the veteran's last World Cup and it will be important he remains free of injury. Alongside Larsson will be the imposing Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Juventus. Considered one of the finest forwards in Europe, his presence will be vital for Sweden's chances.
It is sometimes forgotten that Sweden topped their group in last season's Fifa World Cup, a group that included England and Argentina. More worryingly for England they haven't beaten Sweden for 38 years.