Continuity was a compliment to Janne Andersson when it came to his first eleven in the national team.
But it is now an open race for half the places.
“I hope some can really step up and take the opportunity and play their part so we as a team can take off,” says Ludwig Augustinsson.
was before Jan Anderson He is almost like an open book when it comes to his start to the eleven national team.
At WC 2018, he had eleven nailers and very few changes were due to illness or suspension.
In EC 2021, he had the same players in ten out of eleven positions and only changed partner Alexander Isaacs in attack in two matches.
But in the last gathering, the elves’ choices were purely Wild West compared to the two tournaments, in large part as a result of injuries, disqualifications, suspensions, the new game system, not least the tight matchmaking. The captain of the national team, for example, lined up with four different three-man midfielders for the four games.
Open 6 place race
When the national team now takes charge of the Nations League finale with an away game against Serbia on Saturday and a home game with Slovenia on Tuesday, it is even harder if the starting eleven puzzle can be pieced together, at least for us among the outsiders.
With Alexander Isaacs gone, we only have five players fully committed: Robin Olsen, Victor Nelson Lindelof, Ludwig Augustinson, Emil Forsberg and Dejan Kulusevsky.
In the other six positions, the race is fairly open-ended (see appendix below).
Sportbladet Janne Andersson tested on some positions at the group’s opening press conference on Monday.
About the center back:
– It’s clear that Victor is taken for granted. We have an idea but we want to see it in training and talk to them. It should take shape this week, even if we have a primer on who will play alongside Victor, says Anderson.
So it’s too open?
There are many jobs that have competition. I didn’t set eleven today. But you always have a basic idea.
Claeson – midfielder or striker?
By all accounts, the national team is well on its way back to a 4-4-2, at least defensively.
On Monday, Anderson did not want to reveal more about his tactical line-up.
– But nothing revolutionary. It also depends on the players on the field, and how we should use their qualities in the best way.
Victor Claesson was primarily a winger/forward in the national team, regardless of whether Sweden played 4-4-2 or 4-4-3. But as if it ‘complicates’ it more for those of us Kremlin scientists in the press corps who follow the national team, Claesson was playing in the middle recently in FC Copenhagen’s 4-3-3 match.
Do you see him as a striker or a midfielder in this group?
– Victor has already played Nine (in FCK). After all, he is a useful player in several different positions, even in the national team. We’ll see where Victor gets involved and competes hard somewhere.
Will Forsberg continue in the new role he got in June as an attacking midfielder? He himself is not clear when this question is asked.
– You’ve seen me play. I walk a little bit all over the place anyway. We have some ideas, we’ll see on Saturday.
Even Ludwig Augustinsson doesn’t see himself as an obvious starting player, although he should be.
– It’s good to be able to test a little now. The Nations League is important, but the European Championship qualifiers are more than just a knife in the throat. “I hope some can really step up and take the chance and play well so that we as a team can take off,” says the Aston Villa left-back.
Serbia-Sweden plays in the Nations League on Saturday 20.45. The match is broadcast on TV6 and Viaplay.
Initially the eleven places are open somewhat ahead of Serbia and Sweden
right back
Who will replace the injured Emil Kraft – Joel Anderson or Daniel Sundgren?
center back
Who forms the duo with Nelson Lindelof? Three to bid: Isak Hien, Edvin Kurtulus and Aiham Ousou – in that order.
Midfielder x 2
Who will play in the middle of the field? And should it be three (3-4-3) or just two (4-4-2)? If Forsberg continues as a midfielder at 4-3-3, two places will open. Four players fight over them and it is very difficult to say why. The gang of four are Jens Cajuste, Kristoffer Olsson, Mattias Svanberg and Jesper Karlström.
forward center
Alexander Isaacs, of course, is the obvious choice as a central striker at 4-3-3. But he has now left the team injured. Will Victor Jokers get the chance? Or Robin Quison? Or will it be a 4-4-2 with two central attackers? Who will take places next?
left rider
Dejan Kulusevski to the right. On the left, Victor Claison and Anthony Ilanga mainly fight for place (a clear advantage for Clason). Unless Janne ran 4-4-2 and threw Forsberg there again.