Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Indonesia
Nigeria

Preview: Sweden vs. Armenia - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 3 June 2021, 13:44
Sweden will round off their preparations for this summer's European Championships with a clash against Armenia in Solna on Saturday evening.

The Blue and Yellows will enter the friendly off the back of a 2-0 win over Finland on May 29, while Armenia, who have not qualified for Euro 2020, drew 1-1 with Croatia on June 1.

Match preview

Sweden made it four straight victories in all competitions on Saturday evening, as goals from Robin Quaison and Sebastian Larsson saw them record a solid 2-0 win over Finland in Solna.

Janne Andersson's team will now complete their preparations for Euro 2020 against Armenia, with their opening Group E clash with Spain looming large.

Sweden will also take on Poland and Slovakia in the group stages of this summer's competition, and it will be fascinating to see how they perform in the coming weeks.

The Blue and Yellows, who have beaten Georgia, Kosovo, Estonia and Finland in their last four matches, have been eliminated in the group stages of the last three European Championships.

Sweden reached the semi-finals of Euro 1992 and quarter-finals of Euro 2004, though, and are certainly capable of providing tricky opposition for any side at this level of football.

Armenia, meanwhile, will enter this contest off the back of an impressive 1-1 draw away to Croatia on Tuesday; Ivan Perisic had sent the hosts ahead in the 24th minute, but Wbeymar Angulo levelled in the second period.

The Collective Team have never qualified for the finals of a European Championship, while they have also not been present at a World Cup, meaning that it was not a shock to see them fail to make Euro 2020.

Joaquin Caparros's side appear to be heading firmly in the right direction, though, as they are unbeaten in their last nine matches in all competitions, recording six wins in the process.

Armenia have made an impressive start to their 2022 World Cup qualification campaign, meanwhile, picking up nine points from their three Group J fixtures to sit top of the section, three points clear of third-placed Germany on the same number of matches.

Sweden International Friendlies form:

Sweden form (all competitions):

Armenia International Friendlies form:

Armenia form (all competitions):

Team News

Sweden did not pick up any injury problems in their 2-0 win over Finland last time out, but head coach Andersson is expected to make a few changes for this match as he prepares for Euro 2020.

Dejan Kulusevski could come in for a start in a wide area, while Alexander Isak, who enjoyed an impressive 2020-21 campaign at Real Sociedad, might feature in the final third of the field.

Mikael Lustig and Andreas Granqvist could also start at the back, having been unused substitutes on Saturday evening, but Victor Lindelof might be saved for their Euro 2020 opener against Spain on June 14.

As for Armenia, the bulk of the XI that started against Croatia last time out could again take to the field.

Tigran Barseghyan is the leading goalscorer in the current squad with eight, and the Astana attacker is again expected to line up in an advanced area for the visitors.

The majority of Armenia's serious international experience is in their defensive unit, where Kamo Hovhannisyan should earn his 57th cap as part of a back four, but 20-year-old Eduard Spertsyan could make just his third appearance for the national side in the middle of the park.

Sweden possible starting lineup:

Olsen; Krafth, Granqvist, Lustig, Bengtsson; Kulusevski, Svanberg, Larsson, Forsberg; Isak, Berg

Armenia possible starting lineup:

Yurchenko; Terteryan, Voskanyan, Calisir, Hovhannisyan; Babayan, Grigoryan, Spertsyan, Bayramyan; Adamyan, Barseghyan

We say: Sweden 1-1 Armenia

Sweden will be keen to enter Euro 2020 off the back of another win, but Armenia were excellent against Croatia last time out, and it would not be a surprise to see the two teams play out a low-scoring draw here, with Andersson looking to get his squad through without suffering any fitness concerns.

Top News

1 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United defender Alvaro Fernandez is reportedly set to join Portuguese giants Benfica in a €6m (£5.1m) deal during this summer's transfer window. 1 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A member of Arsenal's 2003-04 Invincibles squad has questioned Mikel Arteta's decision to brutally axe Aaron Ramsdale from the first XI in place of David Raya. 1 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tom Heaton is reportedly open to penning a new deal at Manchester United despite not making a single appearance for the club during the 2023-24 campaign. 1 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has insisted that Jude Bellingham will "be back to his best" in next week's Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich. 1 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Thiago Silva has allegedly emerged as a club for three different London clubs. 1 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly weighing up a summer move for Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi. 1 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides fighting for a place in the top four of the Turkish Super Lig come together on Friday evening when Besiktas host Caykur Rizespor at Vodafone Park. 1 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Luka Modric broke a long-standing Real Madrid record when he took to the field in Tuesday's Champions League semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich at Allianz Arena. 1 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly rejected the opportunity to sign Sofyan Amrabat on a permanent basis during this summer's transfer window. 1 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has implored one of his out-of-form troops to "fight" his way out of his Lilywhites rut. 1 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that the club's injury list has only increased ahead of Thursday's Premier League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur. 1 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have announced the death of former attacker Terry Medwin at the age of 91. 1 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With their spot amongst France's finest crop secured for a third straight season, Toulouse will welcome an in-form Montpellier HSC side to Stadium de Toulouse on Friday evening in Ligue 1. 1 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The father of Chelsea defender Ian Maatsen has suggested that his son is hopeful of remaining at Borussia Dortmund in the long term. 1 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have suffered two significant blows in their pursuit of Champions League football, as two more players have been ruled out for the rest of the season through injury. 1 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Friday night's Premier League offering sees an Everton side already assured of survival travel to a Luton Town outfit still scrapping for their top-flight status at Kenilworth Road. 1 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Go Ahead Eagles head into Friday's encounter with Fortuna Sittard looking for the win that would all but secure a top-nine finish in the Eredivisie standings. 1 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are back in action on Saturday evening when they play host to Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Etihad Stadium. 1 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Benjamin Sesko's agent has fuelled suggestions that his client could be on the move to the Premier League during this summer's transfer window. 1 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Marcus Rashford has reportedly communicated to Manchester United that he has no desire to seek a move away from the club during this summer's transfer window. 1 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Torino seek to end a four-match winless Serie A run when they welcome Champions League hopefuls Bologna to Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino in gameweek 35's clash on Friday. 1 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly preparing to enter into discussions with Ronald Araujo's agent over a big-money move for the Barcelona centre-back during the upcoming transfer window. 1 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Hoffenheim could slide into the bottom half of the Bundesliga table if this weekend's gameweek 32 clash with RB Leipzig at PreZero Arena goes awry. 1 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 1 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Occupying the lunchtime slot in this Saturday's Premier League action, Arsenal welcome Bournemouth to the Emirates Stadium just over a year on from their pulsating 3-2 comeback success over the Cherries. 30 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane set a new Champions League record in Tuesday's 2-2 draw against Real Madrid in the semi-final first leg. 30 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane set a new Champions League record in Tuesday's 2-2 draw against Real Madrid in the semi-final first leg. 30 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have announced that interim chief executive Patrick Stewart and chief financial officer Cliff Baty are both set to leave the club. 30 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fulham have reportedly held talks over a potential move for Besiktas striker Semih Kilicsoy. 30 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fourteen-time Champions League winners Real Madrid came from behind to rescue a 2-2 draw against Bayern Munich in the first leg of their semi-final tie at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night.
Sat 04 May, 16:00
A
Monza Monza
-
sch
Lazio Lazio
Sat 04 May, 18:45
A
Sassuolo Sassuolo
-
sch
Inter Inter