Sweden will hope to use their friendly clash against hosts Luxembourg on Saturday at Stade de Luxembourg as preparation for the beginning of their World Cup qualifying campaign in September.
The home side drew 2-2 with Northern Ireland in the Nations League on November 18 in their most recent match, while Sweden beat Azerbaijan 6-0 on November 19 in the same competition.
Match preview
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Luxembourg were arguably fortunate to avoid defeat against Norther Ireland considering they only produced two shots from inside the penalty area yet scored both opportunities.
The hosts finished last in their four-team group in the Nations League with just three points from six games, conceding seven goals in that time.
Boss Luc Holtz will be keen to avoid a repeat of his team’s previous clash against Sweden in October 2017 when they lost 8-0, with Marcus Berg netting four goals in that World Cup qualifier.
The Red Lions are in poor form, as while they drew three and lost one of their past four, they were also beaten in their prior four.
Luxembourg are winless in their last three at home – losing two – though they did triumph in four of their previous five at Stade de Luxembourg.
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As for Sweden, striker Viktor Gyokeres scored four goals against Azerbaijan in their final Nations League group game and helped his team earn automatic promotion to League B of the competition.
Saturday’s visitors have been relentless in the final third in their past fixtures, scoring 19 times in their last six.
Given that manager Jon Dahl Tomasson‘s side failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup and have in fact only qualified for one of the last four editions of the competition, the boss will want to ensure his players are as prepared as possible for their upcoming qualifying campaign.
Sweden are undefeated in six matches, with the team winning five in that period while keeping three clean sheets.
The visitors are also unbeaten in their last three away from home having won two and drawn one in that time, but they did lose their previous three on the road.
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Team News
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Luxembourg may start a similar team to the one that drew with Norther Ireland, making defenders Seid Korac, Dirk Carlson and Mathias Olesen likely to appear in the backline.
Hugo Larsson could be partnered in a midfield two by Leandro Barreiro, while Danel Sinani and Tomas Moreira may support forward Gerson Rodrigues.
Meanwhile, Gyokeres is almost certain to be paired together with striker Alexander Isak in a front two for Sweden.
Elsewhere, midfielders Jasper Karlstrom and Anton Saletros may be trusted in a double pivot ahead of centre-backs Carl Starfelt, Gabriel Gudmundsson and Victor Lindelof.
Luxembourg possible starting lineup:
Fox; Korac, Carlson, Olesen; Jans, Barreiro, Larsson, Bohnert; Sinani, Moreira; Rodrigues
Sweden possible starting lineup:
Johansson; Starfelt, Gudmundsson, Lindelof; Elanga, Karlstrom, Saletros, Forsberg; Kulusevski; Gyokeres, Isak
We say: Luxembourg 0-5 Sweden
Sweden’s immense form in the final third makes them favourites, particularly given they could field both Isak and Gyokeres together.
Additionally, Luxembourg have struggled for some time and have often been beat, and they are unlikely to avoid defeat on Saturday.
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