Both sides are tied at the top spot in the League B Group 4 standings after the first round of matches and will be aiming to move three points clear in pursuit of promotion to Europe’s top tier
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Sweden will host Norway in the UEFA Nations League fixture at the Friends Arena on Sunday. Both sides are tied at the top spot in the League B Group 4 standings after the first round of matches and will be aiming to move three points clear in pursuit of promotion to Europe’s top tier. On Thursday, Sweden defeated Slovenia 2-0 while Norway edged past Serbia 1-0. Sweden finished bottom of their group in League A last term and will need to find their way back to the cream of the competition. Norway, on the other hand, finished second in their group last season and failed to secure promotion to the top tier.
The Blue and Yellow failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup when they lost to Poland in the qualifying playoff final in March. The Scandinavian nation is going through a rebuilding process under head coach Janne Andersson. In a closely contested game against Slovenia, Emil Forsberg put Sweden ahead from the penalty spot before Dejan Kulusevski’s late goal sealed the win and the three points for the Blue and Yellow. The result took Andersson’s tally to 13 wins from his last 20 games.
On the other hand, Norway also failed to qualify for the World Cup finals in Qatar later this year. The Lions finished third in their group, behind Netherlands and Turkey. Stale Solbakken’s side will now be concentrating on the Nations League fixtures up ahead. In the last Nation’s League campaign, the Nordic nation battled their way into the second spot behind Austria. After scoring 11 goals and conceding none in the two friendlies in March, Norway visited Serbia, who had qualified for the World Cup finals from a group consisting of Portugal. Erling Haaland’s first half goal was enough for the Lions to clinch three points at Red Star stadium.
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Sweden has a number of injury problems with veterans Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Albin Ekdal, Martin Olsson and young Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof ruled out for this fixture. Celtic’s Carl Starfelt and St. Louis City’s Joakim Nilsson should form the centre-back partnership. Meanwhile Anthony Alanga, Alexander Isak and Kulusevski would form the front-three.
As for Norway, Omar Elabdellaoui and Kristoffer ajer have not been included in the squad because of injuries. Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard is set to occupy the attacking midfielder’s role behind Manchester City’s new recruitment Haaland, who has netted 22 goals in 24 games for Borussia Dortmund last term.
Sweden probable starting lineup: Olsen, Krafth, Starfelt, Nilsson, Augustinsson, Forsberg, Karlstrom, Olsson, Kulusevski, Isak, Claesson
Norway probable starting lineup: Nyland, Pedersen, Strandberg, Ostigard, Meling, Aursnes, Thorsby, Berge, Odegaard, Elyounoussi, Haaland
The UEFA Nations League match between Sweden and Norway will take place at the Friends Arena and it will kick-off at 12:15 am IST on Sunday, June 6.
Select UEFA Nations League 2022-23 matches will be telecast live on the Sony TEN network in India. Besides, live streaming of these matches will be available on SonyLIV and JioTV apps and OTT platforms in India.
