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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.

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