Preview: Sweden vs. New Zealand - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts are the midst of a European Championship qualification campaign after missing out on a place at last year's World Cup, whilst New Zealand have not played a competitive fixture in nearly 12 months.

Match preview

Sweden return to action after their first camp of the calendar year which produced a mix bag in terms of their efforts to reach the Euros in Germany next summer.

A Romelu Lukaku hat-trick for Belgium blew away the Swedes in Solna to kick off Group F, before Janne Anderson's men quickly found their shooting boots to beat Azerbaijan 5-0 just three days later.

Despite failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup and finishing bottom of their Nations League group, there is good reason why Sweden fans should be excited for the future of their side.

Two mains reasons come in the form of two talismanic strikers - Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres have enjoyed productive campaigns with Newcastle United and Coventry City respectively this term, netting 31 league goals combined.

New Zealand will rack up plenty of air miles over this international period with games in Sweden and Qatar over the next couple days - how the Kiwis wish they could have visited Doha just 7 months earlier.

A Joel Campbell goal in the third minute of their Inter-Confederation clash with Costa Rica last June ended New Zealand's hopes of qualifying for football's grandest tournament, denying them of a place in a group alongside Germany, Spain and Japan.

A quartet of friendly matches have followed since that heartbreaking day at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, with Darren Bazeley's men going winless in two games against Australia and unbeaten in a pair of duels with China most recently.

Caretaker boss Bazeley racked up over 250 appearances for Watford in his playing days - the 50-year-old has managed a variety of the Kiwis' youth teams as well as taking up assistant roles in MLS and the A League.

Sweden friendly form:

W

W

Sweden form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

L

W

New Zealand friendly form:

D

W

New Zealand form (all competitions):

D

L

L

L

D

W

Team News

Sweden boss Anderson has opted to name a large squad as he intends to use Friday's clash with the Kiwis to prepare for the Euro qualifier against Austria next week, with the likes of Samuel Gustafson and Edvin Kurtulus having the opportunity to earn rare appearances.

Hugo Larsson will be looking to add to his singular cap for his national side over the next week - the 18-year-old is largely expected to join Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt from Malmo this summer.

New Zealand have called up Wellington Phoenix defender Finn Surman for the first time, with the youngster impressing for the All Whites at the Under-20 World Cup last month.

There is plenty of English Football League representation in the visitors' squad with Max Crocombe and Nik Tzanev both looking to stake their claim as first-choice goalkeeper after solid campaigns with Grimsby Town and AFC Wimbledon respectively.

Sweden possible starting lineup:

Olsen; Egnell; Lindelof, Ekdal, Gudmundsson; Kulusevski, Larsson, Gustafson, Forsberg; Gyokeres, Isak

New Zealand possible starting lineup:

Sail; Payne, Boxall, Pijnaker, Cacace; Bell, Stamenic, Just, McCowatt, Rojas; Greive

We say: Sweden 3-0 New Zealand

Sweden will be confident of recording a win to kick off their June international against a New Zealand side who are going through a transitional period under caretaker management.

Previews by email