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Sweden vs Belgium: Head to head statistics
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Match preview
A fresh start for Belgium with this Domenico Tedesco’s first game in charge.
Back in November, the Red Devils crashed out in the World Cup group stages, and this signalled the end for Roberto Martínez, after 80 games and three major tournaments in charge.
So, Tedesco has come in, having previously managed Schalke, Spartak Moscow and RB Leipzig.
He takes over a team in transition, with Simon Mignolet, Toby Alderweireld, Axel Witsel, Dries Mertens, Eden Hazard and Christian Benteke all having retired.
In this group, Belgium are seeking to qualify for three successive Euros for the first time ever and, despite being drawn alongside Sweden and Austria, are confident of achieving that.
So what about Sweden?
However, 2022 was a difficult year for the Blågult, first beaten by Poland in the World Cup play-off final 12 months ago.
Then, in September, Janne Andersson’s side were ignominiously relegated to Nations League C, losing four consecutive matches in that competition.
So, Sweden are under pressure to secure automatic qualification, and their clashes with Austria, on 20 June and 12 September, are likely to be key in that regard.
These two have only met twice in competitive fixtures in the last 62 years, both at European Championships.
Belgium won 2-1 on home soil in Euro 2000′s opening match, before a 1-0 victory in Nice 16 years later.
Will this clash at the Friends Arena also go the way of the Red Devils?
Sweden team news
41 year old Zlatan Ibrahimović is in this squad, hoping to feature 22 years after his international debut.
However, Newcastle’s Alexander Isak is the team’s first-choice striker these days, possibly partnered by the hard-working Robin Quaison.
Dejan Kuluševski and Emil Forsberg will support the front two, with Manchester United’s Victor Lindelöf captaining the team from centre-back.
Linus Wahlqvist is set to win only his seventh cap at right back as Emil Krafth is out injured.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Olsen; Wahlqvist, Lindelöf, Starfelt, Augustinsson; Ekdal, Svanberg, Kuluševski, Forsberg; Quaison, Isak.
Belgium team news
Belgium always used a back three under Roberto Martínez, but Domenico Tedesco could deploy a four.
Jan Vertonghen is set to win his 146th cap, possibly partnered by Wout Faes, earning just his second.
Midfield will look very different, given that Axel Witsel has retired while neither Youri Tielemans nor Leander Dendoncker has been called up.
So, Amadou Onana could partner Dennis Praet at the base, allowing Kevin De Bruyne to go forward and create.
Up top, Leandro Trossard has been in terrific form for Arsenal, unlike Belgium’s record goal-scorer Romelu Lukaku who’s enduring a miserable time at Inter.
Southampton’s Roméo Lavia, who’s also eligible to play for Ghana will be hoping to make his senior international debut during this window, possibly in Tuesday’s friendly against Germany.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Courtois; Meunier, Faes, Vertonghen, Castagne; Praet, Onana, De Bruyne; Openda, Trossard, Lukaku.
