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How Sweden could line up against Ukraine

sportsmole.co.uk, 27 June 2021, 13:33
Sweden topped a testing Group E last week and now meet Ukraine on Tuesday evening, in a last-16 clash at Hampden Park.

Despite three group-stage displays of typically hard-running, disciplined football causing possible fatigue, head coach Janne Andersson could name an unchanged XI for the 2018 World Cup quarter-finalists.

Only Robin Quaison replaced target man Marcus Berg in a settled starting lineup last time out, with Andersson now set to retain the Mainz man at the top of a familiar 4-4-2 formation in Glasgow.

Having started the tournament as a replacement for injured talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 34-year-old Berg will therefore most likely be relied upon as a second-half option instead, offering a more traditional foil for star striker Alexander Isak up front.

Following a spell in self-isolation due to COVID-19 infection earlier in the tournament, Juventus winger Dejan Kulusevski set up two goals after coming off the bench against Poland, so is again set for a potential 'super sub' role on Tuesday - with veteran Sebastian Larsson and top scorer Emil Forsberg retaining their places on the flanks.

Leading his nation's attacking efforts at these finals, RB Leipzig midfielder Forsberg netted three of Sweden's four goals in the group stage - all in St Petersburg, where he also struck his only other major tournament goal, in the 2018 World Cup. His early opener against Poland last time out was the second-fastest strike in Euros history and his fourth in as many internationals.

Other final-third threats include Real Sociedad striker Isak - still the youngest ever player to score a senior international goal for the Nordic nation - and Viktor Claesson, whose late winner against the Poles was his 10th goal for Sweden and his first in tournament football. Claesson's next cap will be his 50th, but will most probably only come late in the second period when his coach requires fresh legs.

Sweden possible starting lineup: Olsen; Lustig, Lindelof, Danielson, Augustinsson; S. Larsson, Ekdal, Olsson, Forsberg; Quaison, Isak

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