MX23RW : Thursday, November 21 07:07:18| >> :120:72790:72790:
[monks data]
Sweden national football team
Nations League | League C
Nov 16, 2024 at 7.45pm UK
Friends Arena
Slovakia national football team

Sweden
2 - 1
Slovakia

Gyokeres (3'), Isak (48')
Hien (15'), Gudmundsson (28'), Holm (88')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Hancko (19')
Rodak (37'), Dubravka (45+2'), Bero (60'), Skriniar (69'), Calzona (90+2')
Skriniar (90')

Preview: Sweden vs. Slovakia - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Nations League clash between Sweden and Slovakia, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Locked together at the top of League C Group 1 with two games to play, Sweden and Slovakia will battle it out to take the outright lead when they meet on Saturday evening.

Both unbeaten so far, following a 2-2 draw in last month's reverse fixture, either side will secure automatic promotion by beating the other in Solna.


Match preview

Ken Sema and Viktor Gyokeres of Sweden. October 11, 2024.© Imago

Competing in Europe's third tier for the first time, after suffering back-to-back relegations in previous Nations League campaigns, Sweden have proved to be a cut above most opponents so far.

With three wins from four and an average of nearly three goals per game, the Blagult's bid to win promotion back to League B is firmly on track, having added four points to their total in October.

Jon Dahl Tomasson's side had started by posting a 3-1 win in Azerbaijan and a 3-0 home victory over Estonia, with the latter secured by goals from top-class strike duo Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak.

However, last month, the Swedes' charge was temporarily halted by Slovakia, who fought back from two down to steal a point in Bratislava thanks to a David Strelec brace.

A subsequent 3-0 win in Estonia, where the prolific Gyokeres was on target again, left Sweden top of Group 1 due to their superior goal difference compared to Slovakia.

Therefore, they can afford to draw this weekend and still secure top spot by beating Azerbaijan on Tuesday, in the second of back-to-back home fixtures.

Slovakian national team and Stanislav Lobotka 22, Slovakian national team look over their shoulders on June 26, 2024© Imago

Slovakia join Sweden on the 10-point mark after four matches, so they can also claim automatic promotion to League B with one game to spare by taking maximum points on Saturday.

That would ensure a better head-to-head record - which will be the determining factor in separating sides that have ended level on points - even if they then slipped up at home to Estonia.

Either way, at least a playoff place is already wrapped up, following two wins over Azerbaijan, victory against the Estonians and last month's draw with Sweden.

Like their closest rivals in Group 1, the Falcons seem ill-suited to League C, having recently reached the last 16 at Euro 2024, where they came within a whisker of beating England to make the quarter-finals.

Slovakia have won six and lost three of 12 games played so far this year, beating Belgium and Wales along the way, so a trip to Solna will hold few fears for Francesco Calzona's men.

Sweden Nations League form:


Sweden form (all competitions):


Slovakia Nations League form:


Slovakia form (all competitions):



Team News

Sweden head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson on September 5, 2024© Imago

Jon Dahl Tomasson - himself an elite forward during his playing days, with Denmark and AC Milan - can call upon one of Europe's most potent attacking trios once again, with Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres being supported by Dejan Kulusevski in the final third.

However, Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga will not be joining them, having refused to answer Tomasson's calls since a disagreement during Sweden's October camp.

Furthermore, Hugo Larsson suffered an injury in Eintracht Frankfurt's most recent Bundesliga match and withdrew from the squad that gathered in Marbella on Monday. Emil Krafth and Hugo Bolin were also ruled out, so Tomasson drafted in Isac Lidberg, who has scored 10 goals in 12 games for Darmstadt this season and gets his first senior call-up.

Meanwhile, Slovakia can welcome back midfield metronome Stanislav Lobotka, albeit the Napoli man has just returned from a thigh problem and has yet to start a match.

Euro 2024 star Ivan Schranz is also back from injury but has played only 30 minutes in a Czech Cup tie since the start of September; Sparta Prague winger Lukas Haraslin and veteran midfielder Juraj Kucka are missing, though.

After featuring regularly in La Liga, Mallorca goalkeeper Dominik Greif has been selected for the first time in three years and will provide back-up to Marek Rodak and Martin Dubravka.


Sweden possible starting lineup:
Johansson; Lindelof, Hien, Gudmundsson; Eliasson, Karlstrom, Saletros, Sema; Kulusevski; Isak, Gyokeres

Slovakia possible starting lineup:
Dubravka; Pekarik, Skriniar, Obert, Hancko; Duda, Lobotka, Benes; Suslov, Strelec, Schranz


SM words green background

We say: Sweden 3-2 Slovakia

Two attack-minded teams should share a few more goals this weekend, following their 2-2 draw in Slovakia last month, but Sweden are set to come out on top.

The hosts will simply have too much firepower for their visitors to handle - even if the Swedish defence still looks suspect.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


ID:558103:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect12714:

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Sweden vs Slovakia

Sweden
76.1%
Draw
15.5%
Slovakia
8.5%
142
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
England's Harry Kane celebrates scoring their first goal on September 10, 2024
Read Next:
From Ronaldo records to San Marino miracle: The story of 2024-25 Nations League
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League A1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal642014
Q Croatia Croatia62228
3 Scotland flag Scotland62137
4 Poland Poland61144

League A2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France641113
Q Italy Italy641113
3 Belgium Belgium61144
4 Israel Israel61144

League A3

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany642014
Q Netherlands Netherlands62319
3 Hungary Hungary61326
4 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina60242

League A4

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain651016
Q Denmark Denmark62228
3 Serbia Serbia61326
4 Switzerland Switzerland60242

League B1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Czech Republic Czech Republic632111
2 Ukraine Ukraine62228
3 Georgia Georgia62137
4 Albania national flag Albania62137

League B2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England650115
2 Greece Greece650115
3 Ireland Rep. Ireland62046
4 Finland Finland60060

League B3

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Norway Norway641113
2 Austria Austria632111
3 Slovenia Slovenia62228
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan60151

League B4

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Wales flag Wales633012
2 Turkey Turkey632111
3 Iceland Iceland62137
4 Montenegro Montenegro61053

League C1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Sweden Sweden651016
2 Slovakia Slovakia641113
3 Estonia Estonia61144
4 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan60151

League C2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania550015
2 Kosovo flag Kosovo540112
3 Cyprus Cyprus62046
4 Lithuania Lithuania60060

League C3

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland632111
2 Bulgaria Bulgaria62319
3 Belarus Belarus61417
4 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg60333

League C4

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Macedonia N. Macedonia651016
2 Armenia Armenia62137
3 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands61326
4 Latvia Latvia61144

League D1

TeamPWDLPTS
Q San Marino flag San Marino42117
2 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar41306
3 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein40222

League D2

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Republic of Moldova Moldova43019
2 Malta flag Malta42117
3 Andorra flag Andorra40131


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!