World Cup 2006 Preview – Sweden
Outright Odds: 50/1
Group B Winners: nine/4
Sweden battled their way by means of a clumsy qualifying organization which integrated Croatia, Bulgaria, Hungary and Iceland and certified as one of the vital cc6 hazy cc6 two wonderful located runners-up. The Swedes misplaced narrowly 1-zero to Croatia equally domicile and away however 8 wins out of 8 towards the rest of their fighters noticed them degree on factors.
The Swedes boast greatest business enterprise on the back and their defence shipped simply four ambitions in 10 qualifying matches. Goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson changed into a revelation in qualifying, arguably making one mistake towards Iceland in a tournament Sweden received very easily. The Rennes stopper is a necessary substitute for the veteran Thomas Ravelli who gained over one hundred caps for his united states of america.
Sweden additionally have just right attacking concepts to compliment a resolute to come back line. The present darling of Swedish soccer, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, blasted in 8 goals in 10 qualifying video games whereas his creativity allowed the marauding Fredrik Ljungberg to attain seven desires from midfield.
Ibrahimovic came of age at Euro 2004 with a miraculous returned-flick function towards Italy which cause Juventus procuring him for approximately 11 million the following August. He proved his mettle for scoring while it subjects the so much with an injury-time winner away at Hungary in a cruch-qualifier.
Veteran striker Henrik Larsson, a member of the Sweden squad who accomplished 1/3 inside the 1994 finals, also adds one other selection in assault as he seeks one ultimate hurrah in the past retiring from the cc6 game.
Despite thrashing their fighters in qualifying, damn in 27 dreams, thirteen of which got here towards bad Malta, the defeats towards Croatia enhance question marks over regardless of whether they will repeat their wonderful appearances of the beyond.
This is Swedens eleventh look at the World Cup finals. They hosted the tournament in 1958 and scored after 4 mins against Brazil in the last. However, a 17-year-vintage Pele scuppered their plans and the Brazilians ran out five-2 winners. They have additionally reached the semi-finals in 1950 and 1994 so there is lots to live up to.
The enthusiasts will count on them to improve on a difficult look within the 2002 finals when they crowned the first circular community ahead of the two England and Argentina but misplaced inside the 2d circular after added-time in opposition to wonder package Senegal.
Recommended Bet:
It would be a decent warfare between Sweden and England to win Group B, with equally facets most likely to opt who tops the team once they meet within the ultimate activity. Past conferences have been near they usually drew 1-1 once they performed in Group Fs establishing fixture four years in the past. A repeat functionality is the cautioned wager.
Sweden vs England draw @ 11/5
Sweden vs England 1-1 properly score @ 5/1